The Next Best Thing (2000)

19% of critics liked it
(91 reviews)
36% of users liked it
(15,984 ratings)

Best buddies Abbie (Madonna), a heterosexual yoga instructor, and Robert (Rupert Everett), a gay landscaper, cope with failed relationships, the approach of middle age, and the AIDS-related death of a mutual friend by sticking together as a "family of choice." Drunk one night, they have sex, and… More Best buddies Abbie (Madonna), a heterosexual yoga instructor, and Robert (Rupert Everett), a gay landscaper, cope with failed relationships, the approach of middle age, and the AIDS-related death of a mutual friend by sticking together as a "family of choice." Drunk one night, they have sex, and when Abbie turns up pregnant, they decide to move in together and raise the child as decidedly unconventional co-parents. Flash forward several years and Abbie begins dating Ben (Benjamin Bratt), an investment banker. The new relationship causes tension between Abbie and Robert that ultimately leads to betrayal, courtroom confrontation, and a sudden denouement. Everett, a sometime writer of trashy comic novels such as Hello Darling, Are You Working?, reportedly supplied the film's concept and even additional dialogue, although Tom Ropelewski is the credited screenwriter. This was pop diva Madonna's first film role since the hoopla of Evita; she supplied a highly edited hit cover of Don McLean's "American Pie" and one other song for the soundtrack, which was released on her own Maverick imprint. ~ Brian J. Dillard, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: John Schlesinger
Written By: Tom Ropelewski
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: Mar 3, 2000 Wide
On DVD: May 2, 2005
Studio: Paramount Home Video

Critic Reviews

Chris Garcia, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A dreary little journey that starts as a cutesy sitcom and nosedives into leaden soap opera.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Yet another film of missed opportunities in which provocative ideas are destroyed -- in this case, by either the lame writing of Thomas Ropelewski or the timid direction of John Schlesinger, or possibly both.
Jay Carr, Boston Globe
Never having decided whether it wants to be comedy or a sentimental hand-wringer, it tries to be both and winds up being neither.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
This movie remains full of high Hollywood cliches.
(CNN.com) Paul Clinton, CNN.com
A pleasing but mindless diversion that goes down well with buttered popcorn and a large Coke.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
It means to speak to raw, complex emotions, but it looks so ridiculously glossy you can never suspend disbelief.
Charles Cassady, Common Sense Media
1980s teen-sex comedy that actually has an IQ.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
The very first scene in the new Madonna movie The Next Best Thing stumbles and the movie never recovers.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
This astonishingly bad tearjerker, a Fannie Hurst weepie with a gay twist, is as phony as a three-dollar bill and just about as entertaining.
Eric Monder, Film Journal International
Well-intentioned but heavy-handed.

Read all 10 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Candy R

Rupert and Madonna re friends who have a drunken night.
xGary X

Will someone PLEASE tell Madonna to stick to the day job?? She's just embarrassing herself...and someone should tell Rupert Everett that having an english accent isn't enough to carry a film outside of the US' female demographic.
Michael G

I paid $1.50 to see this and I felt ripped off.
Leigh R

Not too bad...
Nate Z

[font=Arial][color=darkred]The Next Best Thing' offers viewers the chance to see an off-kilter romance and drama about the raising of children through standards alternative to modern society. Whatever, it sounded good on paper. What you get, of course, is implausible and dismal… More
[font=Arial][color=darkred]The Next Best Thing' offers viewers the chance to see an off-kilter romance and drama about the raising of children through standards alternative to modern society. Whatever, it sounded good on paper. What you get, of course, is implausible and dismal politically correct drivel served cold.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Madonna and Rupert are the best of buds, but he's gay. So of course it's only nature and a matter of time before they sleep together and get pregnant. They decide to disclose the idenity of the daddy and raise the child together. Why they never went with the Virgin Birth angle is beyond me. So they raise it. And they do. Madonna dates and brings home strange men to make strange noises through walls. Who says the family is in trouble? Then the Material Girl wants said child for herself... and it pretty much veers further into absurd soap opera from there on out.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The premise is a rip-off of the earlier 'The Object of My Affection', which in turn was a rip-off of 'Chasing Amy'. Get prepared for countless scenes of Madonna and Rupert galavanting about like they're in a perpetual slumber party. Never in recent memory has a more awkward film been so damn preachy. It's a never ending soapbox of sermons about family values and gay rights. Wonderful -- but if I'm not mistaken wasn't there supposed to be a story somewhere?[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]The movie resides as one half comedy (?) then one half drama, neither of which is consistant let alone entertaining. Somewhere there's a violent jolt into an out-of-place 'Kramer vs. Kramer' courtroom battle royale. If the audience is supposed to feel for Madonna's character then nothing like a selfish child custody battle to win the hearts of everyone![/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Who's the victim in this? Not the child - it's the audience.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Rupert Everett may be the only redeeming part of this uneven and mushy dramedy of lapsed judgement. His charm is evidant and his leading-man ability carries the film as long as he can until it implodes on itself. I could clearly hear sighs around me of "If only he weren't gay." in the theater. Go Rupert. At least someone has some acting ability instead of an excuse to sell soundtracks.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Madonna is clearly the biggest hinderance in 'The Next Best Thing'. Whenever she speaks it's like she's reciting lines into a mirror. Madonna has some mysterious British accent she seems to have picked up and is as wooden as a board. If you call what she does in this movie "acting" then you'll have to register some national parks with the Screen Actors Guild. Time has also not been an ally to Madonna, for every scene in 'Thing' seems to draw out a new wrinkle. Did her stretch marks go directly to her face? By the end of this movie I thought she was auditioning for the bassist to The Rolling Stones. Well she does have the accent.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]If 'The Next Best Thing' really is the next best thing for Madonna's struggling film career, I'd suggest her next best thing would be to fling her body into oncoming traffic. And pray to the other Madonna while doing it. At least she would have enough sense not to do a silly remake of 'American Pie'.[/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: D+ [/color][/font]
Dannielle A

I found everything from the plot outline to the happy Hollywood ending implausible. Though, it was interesting to see the possibilities if this actually happened. Very thought provoking movie. Bottom line: don't have sex before marriage! It creates so many heartbreaking problems.
Sarah B

Only Michael Vartan saves this Madonna lead travesty. She grates in every single one of her scenes, so much that I want to scratch my eyes out.
Sunil J

I really enjoyed this movie even though it's pretty hated on.
Sarah P

I really enjoyed how this movie showcased the relationship between a straight woman and gay man - who better to do it than Madonna?