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Rupert Everett, Madonna, Benjamin Bratt, Michael Vartan, Josef Sommer ... see more see more... , Lynn Redgrave , Malcolm Stumpf , Neil Patrick Harris , Illeana Douglas , Mark Valley , Suzanne Krull , Stacy Edwards

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... read more read more... 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

Flixster Users

36% liked it

15,984 ratings

Critics

19% liked it

91 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.

Directed by: John Schlesinger

Release Date: March 3, 2000

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DVD Release Date: May 2, 2005

Stats: 490 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (490)

  • thmtsang
    July 14, 2007
    thmtsang
    Rupert and Madonna re friends who have a drunken night.
  • garyX
    December 25, 2006
    garyX
    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.
  • mjgildea
    November 23, 2006
    mjgildea
    I paid $1.50 to see this and I felt ripped off.
  • dreamfaeries
    November 7, 2006
    dreamfaeries
    Not too bad...
  • mrbungle7821
    February 23, 2006
    mrbungle7821
    [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 p... read moreolitically 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]
  • crazydannielle16
    January 18, 2008
    crazydannielle16
    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.
  • mingsysar
    March 16, 2009
    mingsysar
    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.
  • SunilJawahir
    March 3, 2009
    SunilJawahir
    I really enjoyed this movie even though it's pretty hated on.
  • trisarahtops22
    November 17, 2007
    trisarahtops22
    I really enjoyed how this movie showcased the relationship between a straight woman and gay man - who better to do it than Madonna?
  • oriongal23
    November 8, 2007
    oriongal23
    just another sad movie, and i'm not talking about the emotion sad, but rather the pathetic type of sad. lol

View All The Next Best Thing Reviews

Critic Reviews

F.X. Feeney
January 1, 2000
F.X. Feeney, Mr. Showbiz

The two leads have a wonderful chemistry together.

Stephanie Zacharek
January 1, 2000
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

Madonna's charisma as a personality has never translated particularly well to the big screen. Full Review

Michael Wilmington
January 1, 2000
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

This movie remains full of high Hollywood cliches.

Stephen Holden
January 1, 2000
Stephen Holden, New York Times

The moment the movie loses its lighthearted spirit is the moment it loses touch with reality. Full Review

Jan Stuart
January 1, 2000
Jan Stuart, Newsday

A well-intended but confused serio-comedy that flakes out on its central characters.

Philip Wuntch
January 1, 2000
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News

Terminally slow-moving. Full Review

Michael O'Sullivan
January 1, 2000
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post

Two movies in one, and there's not enough breathing room for both of them. Full Review

Joe Baltake
January 1, 2000
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 possib... Full Review

Peter Howell
January 1, 2000
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

It's almost impossible to believe that the director, John Schlesinger, was once the sure hand behind Midnight Cowboy. Did he do this one by telephone? Full Review

Jay Boyar
January 1, 2000
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel

After the melodrama kicks in, the film turns disastrously sappy.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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The Next Best Thing Trivia

  • She told her Papa not to Preach, had a Holiday, Fell in Love With a Beautiful Stranger which must have been The Next Best Thing.  Answer »
  • which movie did madonna star in as a sad yoga instructor  Answer »
  • Which Movie Did Madonna Star With Michael Vartan And Rupert Everett?  Answer »
  • Madonna and Rupert Everett co star together in which movie?  Answer »
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