How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
-
48% of critics liked it
(48 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(31,003 ratings)
Terry McMillan and Ron Bass wrote this screenplay based on McMillan's semi-autobiographical best-selling novel (over 2,000,000 copies in print before the release of this film). San Francisco stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett), a 40-year-old divorcee, has a nice Marin County home and an… More Terry McMillan and Ron Bass wrote this screenplay based on McMillan's semi-autobiographical best-selling novel (over 2,000,000 copies in print before the release of this film). San Francisco stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett), a 40-year-old divorcee, has a nice Marin County home and an 11-year-old son, Quincy (Michael J. Pagan). With Quincy off to see his dad, Stella and her best friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) vacation in Jamaica, where she meets sexy, good-looking Winston Shakespeare (Taye Diggs). He's the man of her dreams in every way except one -- he's half her age. Even so, a romance develops. Grammy Award-winning songwriters Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis supervised the film's music and produced the R&B-slanted soundtrack album. Shown at the 1998 Urbanworld Film Festival (NY). ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Kevin Rodney Sullivan
- Written By
- Terry McMillan, Ron Bass
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Aug 14, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- 20th Century Fox
Critic Reviews
-
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
The movie meanders on and on, like a bad sexual dream, until you finally wake up mumbling: Stella, please: leave that groove thang alone.
-
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Delivers guilt-free escapism about pretty people having wicked-hot fun in pretty places.
-
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
Stella may be frothy and paper-thin, but it's also another great success for star Angela Bassett, who transforms the film into an infomercial for her considerable abilities.
-
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
I never felt Stella and Winston were on the same wavelength, that they could share their lives, that it would be a good idea for them to try.
-
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
It's scrumptious junk food for the brain -- tasty and probably not the least bit good for you.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Not Available
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Angela Bassett
as Stella
-
Taye Diggs
as Winston Shakespeare
-
Regina King
as Vanessa
-
Whoopi Goldberg
as Delilah
-
Suzzanne Douglas
as Angela
-
Michael J. Pagan
as Quincy
-
Sicily
as Chantel
-
Richard Lawson
as Jack
-
Barry Shabaka Henley
as Buddy
-
Lee Weaver
as Nate
-
Glynn E. Turman
as Dr. Shakespeare
-
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney
as Mrs. Shakespeare
-
Lou Myers
as Uncle Ollie
-
James Pickens Jr.
as Walter
-
Carl Lumbly
as Judge Boyle
