The Next Best Thing (2000)

User Rating:

4.4/10   

Director:

John Schlesinger

Writer (WGA):

Tom Ropelewski (written by)

Release Date:

3 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

He was smart, handsome and single. When her biological clock was running out, he was... the next best thing.

Plot:

Abbie, tired of failed relationships, has a one-night-stand with her gay friend; they agree to raise the resulting baby together.

Plot Keywords:

Child | Custody Battle | Gay Friend | Best Friend | Airport

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

Cast

Madonna	...	Abbie Reynolds
Rupert Everett	...	Robert Whittaker
Benjamin Bratt	...	Ben Cooper
Illeana Douglas	...	Elizabeth Ryder
Michael Vartan	...	Kevin Lasater
Josef Sommer	...	Richard Whittaker
Malcolm Stumpf	...	Sam
Lynn Redgrave	...	Helen Whittaker
Neil Patrick Harris	...	David
Mark Valley	...	Cardiologist
Suzanne Krull	...	Annabel
Stacy Edwards	...	Finn
John Carroll Lynch	...	Abbie's Lawyer
Fran Bennett	...	Judge Tracey Bennett
Ricki Lopez	...	Angel

Also Known As:

The Red Curtain (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, partial nudity and language.

Runtime:

108 min | Germany:99 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Australia:M | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Mexico:B | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Spain:13 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 | Philippines:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Trivia:

The house that Rupert Everett stays at is actually Cecil B. DeMille's old house.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): In the end credits, Illeana Douglas is named "Elizabeth Ryder", but her character's name plate on the desk visible in the movie reads "Caroline Ryder".

Quotes:

Abbie: I have something to tell you.
Robert: Is it bigger than a breadbox?
Abbie: Heh, not yet.

Movie Connections:

Features "The Heckle and Jeckle Show" (1956)

Soundtrack:

Samacand Alap & Gat

Almost like TV-movie

I almost felt I watching tv-movie on Hallmark. Especially the last 45 minutes are like in tv-movie. The movie begins with comedy touch and later it becomes boring drama. Madonna is ok in this movie, but the film doesn't have good script. All the actors are ok. The movie isn't funny and surely isn't touching. Maybe better script should worked. If Madonna wants to become better actress, she should rely on better scripts. This film is like tv-movie; after you have watched it, you simply forget it. ** stars from ***** stars.