In Her Shoes (2005)

Rose and Maggie are sisters who are as different as chalk and cheese. Their only similarity is their shoe size! Rose (Toni Collette) feels fat, frumpy and unattractive. The only time she feels beautiful is when she buys herself shoes which “always fit”. She is a highly successful lawyer and can’t believe it when one of the partners in her law firm asks her out.

Meanwhile her sister, Maggie (Cameron Diaz), never graduated from high school, is beautiful and sexy, and completely irresponsible. When Maggie gets thrown out of her father’s house by her stepmother, the trouble starts, and following a fight she moves in with her grandmother (Shirley MacLaine).

I had expected this film to be a real girlie 'chick-flick' but although it may appeal to girls more than guys it's not just a 'chick-flick' in the conventional sense. It's a bitter-sweet story of family relationships that will have you laughing one minute and almost crying the next. 

In Her Shoes is a novel written by Jennifer Weiner and it is fairly obvious from watching the film that, in trying to translate the book onto the screen, some parts had to be cut, most likely to allow for time, but this makes the film appear a little disjointed at times. I haven't read the novel, but would be interested in reading it now, as the film grips you in the same way as a good novel does - you look forward to seeing what happens next and I imagine if I were reading the book I would not be able to put it down.

Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz give excellent performances as the two rival sisters. Toni Collette’s character is similar in many ways to the character she played in “Muriel’s Wedding”. Their grandmother, Ella (Shirley MacLaine), and the other characters who live in the retirement community are hilarious and at times steal the show!

Lasting thought: People often have different memories of the same event.

Bottom Line: Offers a lot more than your average 'chick-flick'. In Her Shoes is a feel-good, bitter-sweet film with performances than create genuine characters.

Reviewed by Sharon Swift, Premier Movie Reviews 2005.

RELATED MOVIE REVIEWS:

CURTIS HANSON:  8 Mile,  Wonder Boys.

CAMERON DIAZ:  Charlies Angels,  Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle,  Gangs Of New York,  Shrek (voice),  Shrek 2 (voice),  The Sweetest Thing,  Vanilla Sky.

TONI COLLETTE:  About A Boy,  Changing Lanes.

Genre: Drama

Director: Curtis Hanson

Certificate: In Her Shoes was rated 12A by the Irish Film Censor's Office (www.ifco.ie) i.e. suitable for those of 12 years of age or upwards. Persons under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Violence = mild. Drugs = none. Sex/Nudity = moderate. Language = moderate.

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: In Her Shoes

~ Main Cast ~

Cameron Diaz
Buy this Photo at AllPosters.com

Cameron Diaz,  Toni Collette,  Shirley Maclaine,  Mark Feverstein,  Anson Mount,  Richard Burgi,  Candice Azzara,  Brooke Smith