Susan Granger’s review of “THE NEXT BEST THING” (Paramount Pictures)
Madonna’s fans will be lining up to see The Material Girl tackle this timely, thoughtful dramatic comedy, directed by John Schlesinger. What they don’t realize is that America’s first openly gay leading man, Rupert Everett, steals the show, just the way he did in My Best Friend’s Wedding. Madonna and Everett play best friends. They’re both bright, unconventional and impulsive – with lousy taste in choosing lovers. One evening, after a few too many drinks, they wind up in bed together – and, soon afterwards, she discovers she’s pregnant. Eager for motherhood, she offers Everett a choice: he can either stay uninvolved, be the baby’s “uncle,” or assume the role of father. He opts for fatherhood, so they decide to live together and raise their son (Matthew Stumpf). Theirs may not be the perfect family – but it’s the next best thing. Everett proves to be an ideal father, putting the child’s interests first and foremost, refusing to develop other attachments in his life. Their good-natured, non-traditional arrangement works superbly for several years – until Madonna meets the man of her dreams (Benjamin Bratt) and ends up in a nasty fight for custody of the boy. That’s when Thomas Ropelewski’s character-driven script gets serious. Keep in mind, this is not a controversy about homosexuality. It’s about significant human emotions, ties that bind, and commitment. Unfortunately, Bratt’s underdeveloped role is less sympathetic, particularly since the audience has formed a compelling attachment to Everett, making the courtroom scenes anticlimactic. And don’t miss Madonna’s rendition of Don McLean’s American Pie over the final credits. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, The Next Best Thing is a thoroughly enjoyable, enigmatic 8 – asking: What is a father? What is a family?
