I only found out about this film when it was television, then clips of it were featured in the documentary Secrets of Cinema with film critic Mark Kermode, I was expecting something either cheesy but enjoyable, or something just average, I was prepared for either. Basically Stella Payne (Angela Bassett) is a successful forty-something stockbroker and single mother, she lives with her eleven-year-old son Quincy (Michael J. Pagan) in Marin County, San Francisco, California. She is persuaded by her best friend from college, Delilah Abraham (Whoopi Goldberg), from New York, and seeing an advertisement, to take a well-deserved, first-class vacation to Montego Bay, Jamaica. While Quincy spends time with his father, Stella goes on vacation and soaks in the beauty of the island. There she encounters a handsome young native islander, Winston Shakespeare (introducing Taye Diggs), who is twenty years younger. He is the man of her dreams, but the age gap is a big concern for her, but as times passes, their friendship soon blossoms into a romance. Eventually Stella does have to return to America, as she things to take care of, as a mother and a corporate executive. But then Stella gets a shock when Winston has followed her all the way to San Francisco, and she brings him to a family barbecue. At the barbecue, Stella is also reunited with her ex-husband Jack (Richard Lawson), he and many of the other guests seem to accept her being with a younger man, but she feels their relationship was only a holiday thing. Then Stella is dealt a devastating blow, Delilah is dying of cancer but chose not to tell her, she spends her last moments with her in the hospital as she on her death bed. After attending the funeral, Winston tries to convince Stella that he is serious in his feelings for her, but she must try and balance her love life with her responsibilities, Stella gives into her feelings in the end. Also starring Regina King as Vanessa, Suzzanne Douglas as Angela, Sicily Johnson as Chantel, The Terminal's Barry Shabaka Henley as Buddy, Victor Garber as Isaac, Lee Weaver as Nate, Gremlins' Glynn Turman as Dr. Shakespeare, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Mrs. Shakespeare, James Pickens Jr. as Walter Payne, Philip Casnoff as Kennedy, Lou Myers as Uncle Ollie, Art Metrano as Dr. Steinberg, Carl Lumbly as Judge Spencer Boyle and Leroy Edwards III as Dreadlocked Man in Commercial. Bassett gives a good performance as the downbeat woman who takes in the sun and finds a love interest, Diggs in his first role is likeable, and there is welcome support from Goldberg and King. It is a very simple story, girl goes on holiday, meets boy (much older), falls in love, and tries to keep things in check while pondering whether she can be with him, it is predictable, schmaltzy and sentimental in parts, but all the characters are well thought-out, the sights of the Caribbean are beautiful, and it is easy-going fun, a reasonable romantic comedy drama. Worth watching!
Review of How Stella Got Her Groove Back
