the audience applauded

Sick Product of a Sick System

Lack of good storyline.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The Next Best Thing (2000): Dir: John Schlesinger / Cast: Madonna, Rupert Everett, Benjamin Bratt, Illeana Douglas, Lynn Redgrave: Miserable sack of trash with a title that swerves around the issue of sex and friendship. Friendship is not the next best thing to a stupid sexual fling. Madonna and Rupert Everett are best friends. He is gay and the father of her baby after one drunken night. It is a bitter film that boils down to a custody battle when Madonna is engaged to someone she met in Yoga class. It jumps from Madonna in labour to her son at six years old in a matter of a scene that strikes as confusing without subtitles. The ending is slapped on and awkward. Dreadful directing by John Schlesinger who once made superb films such as Marathon Man and Midnight Cowboy. Now he directs this garbage just after directing another crap fest called Eye for an Eye. Madonna is hideous in a role that is very unsympathetic. Is it possible that this is her worst performance or is this one of her many toss ups? Everett fares far better as someone wrestling with his sexuality as well as friendship and potential fatherhood. Benjamin Bratt's performance as Madonna's Yoga class boy toy is about as inspiring as a kick in the ass. Illeana Douglas and Lynn Redgrave also make the mistake of showing up in this. Pointless soap opera where the next best thing is a paper bag to vomit in. Score: ½ / 10

i cannot recall the last time i left a theater feeling as dumbfounded as when i left this horrific film. this movie was just plain stupid. i mean, seriously, didn't anyone at any point realize that it was a mess, or was it like when you drive by a car accident and cannot help but look as you pass? unfortunately, car accidents are more interesting because you never know what you'll see. plus, you kinda wonder just how bad it could be, half hoping it isn't that bad, and half hoping it it. with 'the next best thing' i can tell you exactly how bad it is, and unfortunately, like a car accident, i could not look away from this. unlike a car accident the only reason i looked was because it was being projected on the wall in front of me. short of fire, or removing my eyes from their socket i did not see another option.

This movie is really not as bad as the rating wants to make you believe. I admit that the beginning is just cheesy and absolutely horrible, riddled with stereotypes and awkward performances. It gets better from the moment on when Madonna confronts Rupert Everett's character (Robert) with his upcoming paternity. The moral implications of a gay man and a straight woman deciding to raise a child together are indeed challenging and very much up-to-date. Here the comedy aspect is overlaid by some sincere issues that make this movie more interesting than the beginning has implied.The movie even turns into a family drama and becomes very emotional. You will love Malcolm Stumpf as Sam, the protagonists' son. He is very convincing and shows substantial natural talent, which adds considerable quality to the story. The final dramatic climax is an ensuing court room struggle for custody of the little boy between Robert and Madonna with her new boyfriend Ben. This causes very strong moral and emotional implications. Robert's desperate struggle and his honest commitment to be together with his beloved son goes straight into your heart and addresses the issue of homosexuals and their rights to raise children. Here again Malcolm Stumpf bears a significant part of the emotional burden, and does so genuinely.This movie is very simple in its equipment, but the messages delivered and the characters portrayed make it worthwhile. Rupert Everett does a great job, and Madonna shows that she can act if she has to. It is a very tough subject, and in the end you will not consider the movie a comedy any longer. This is a good thing.

I know from 'Desperately Seeking Susan', 'Dick Tracy' and 'Evita' that Madonna can act. At first, I felt that something was missing from her performance here. I finally concluded that she has the talent for romantic comedy and for pleasant drama, but at least in this movie, when it comes to unpleasant drama, she hasn't got it.Madonna was so warm and caring as a mother. If this is how she is with her own child, I have confidence the child will probably turn out all right. She also made a convincing yoga teacher. I didn't care that much for the yoga class, except for the one clumsy newcomer.Rupert Everett gave the standout performance here as the gay best friend. I thought his best scene was the one where he asked for Abbie's keys. I liked his taste in music, too. I may be straight, but I'll choose Frank or Judy any time. Also that song that Abbie and Robert were dancing to when they knocked over the furniture. Madonna's own music, on the other hand ... well, actually, I don't dislike her as much as others who perform in the same style.The movie nearly got off track toward the end, but the ending was satisfying and didn't make things too easy for the characters. There was a challenge to overcome that actually added to the movie.This was pretty good. Not great.