‘Shoes’ more than chick flick

“In Her Shoes,” starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette and Shirley MacLaine, is a touching and funny story about two sisters who are pulled apart and must come back together with the help of their grandmother. It is a chick flick, to be sure, but also a truly well done movie.

In the film Diaz plays Maggie, the constantly unemployed younger sister who is both irresponsible and promiscuous. Collette plays Rose, the older sister who is an established, responsible lawyer with little social life and low spirits. In the beginning all that is shown is how opposite they are and how inevitable their falling out will be. But after they have their huge fight — even though they both grow as people during the other’s absence — it becomes apparent just how much they need one another. Luckily their long-lost grandmother (MacLaine) comes into the picture in time to help them reunite.

The whole movie is highlighted by touching moments, memorable performances and great lines. And while its characters are not wholly unique, the film manages to escape mediocrity by allowing the characters to stand on their own without dwelling on their cliché issues. The movie assumes that the audience understands low self-esteem and negative body image and so time is not wasted spelling it all out again.

The plot isn’t obvious or lacking subtlety, either, like so many movies today. There are twists and family secrets which are not completely predictable and yet they are nicely foreshadowed.

Also noteworthy in “In Her Shoes” is the clever cinematography. There are surprisingly great shots in the film, including a wonderful one where MacLaine pulls up in her car to pick up Diaz, having never met her as an adult, and Diaz’s back is to the camera but her eye can be seen in her compact. It is a very visually interesting moment.

“In Her Shoes” is a feel-good movie, to be sure; there is a love story and everyone’s problems are being solved, but it isn’t pure fluff. The movie actually balances the comedy and the drama amazingly. From scene to scene and even within certain moments there will be both brilliantly funny and brilliantly poignant lines. For instance, within one scene Collette goes from crying to brandishing a knife at her horrible stepmother and screaming like an insane person, “I am talking to my friend!” It all stems from the same emotional distress, but that one source cleverly provides drama and great comedy for the screen. And these three actresses are perfectly suited for this dynamic, as they all have a mastery of both timing and the honest portrayal of emotions.

If you aren’t big on chick flicks, this one won’t necessarily transcend its genre to satisfy you, but if you even remotely like this kind of film, “In Her Shoes” is definitely worth going to see.

Grade: B+