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How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) 5.5
Ratings:
5.5/10 from 5,158 users
Metascore: 56/100
Reviews: 51 user | 29 critic | 23 from Metacritic.com Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to ... See full summary » Director:Kevin Rodney Sullivan |
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Title: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)
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4 wins & 8 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Angela Bassett | ... | ||
| Taye Diggs | ... | ||
| Whoopi Goldberg | ... | ||
| Regina King | ... |
Vanessa
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| Suzzanne Douglas | ... |
Angela
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| Michael J. Pagan | ... |
Quincy Payne
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| Sicily Johnson | ... |
Chantel
(as Sicily)
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| Richard Lawson | ... |
Jack
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| Barry Shabaka Henley | ... |
Buddy
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| Lee Weaver | ... |
Nate
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| Glynn Turman | ... |
Dr. Shakespeare
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| Phyllis Yvonne Stickney | ... |
Mrs. Shakespeare
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Denise Hunt | ... |
Ms. Thang
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Lisa Hanna | ... |
Abby
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| James Pickens Jr. | ... |
Walter Payne
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Plot Summary
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Storyline
Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful New York girlfriend Delilah to take a well deserved, first-class vacation to Jamaica. As she soaks in the beauty of the island, she encounters a strapping, young islander, Winston Shakespeare. His pursuits for her turn into a hot and steamy romance that forces Stella to take personal inventory of her life and try to find a balance between her desire for love and companionship, and the responsibilities of mother and corporate executive. Written by John Deming <jfdeming@sprynet.com>
Plot Keywords:
vacation | jamaica | six word title | female protagonist | tragic event |Taglines:
Sometimes you have to break the rules to free your heart.Parents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
14 August 1998 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
How Stella Got Her Groove Back On See more »Box Office
Budget:
$20,000,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$11,318,919 (USA) (14 August 1998)Gross:
$37,672,350 (USA) (8 January 1999)Company Credits
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Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Dolby DigitalColor:
ColorAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1
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Winston Shakespeare: It's my cologne, it's new.
Stella Payne: I meant the food.
Winston Shakespeare: Oh.
Stella Payne: [in her mind] I meant the cologne.
See more »
Performed by Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Written by Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions,
Inc. and Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Me'Shell N'degéocello appears courtesy of Maverick Recording Company
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Angela Bassett was planning her nuptials with then-fiancé Courtney B. Vance when cast in the lead role. The start of production kept being pushed back by producer Deborah Schindler which was a blessing and a curse for Bassett. The continued delay of production gave her ample time to get her body in perfect shape for the film but it also prevented her from being able to set a definite date for her wedding. Determined to get married in the fall of 1997, Bassett and Vance stood their ground and set a firm date for the ceremony, October 17, 1997, by that point Bassett had been filming for about a month on "Stella." See more »Goofs
When Winston is going to show Stella the room he made her for building furniture it is dark, but when Winston opens the door you can easily see that there is sunlight coming through the doorway. See more »Quotes
Stella Payne: [eating breakfast] Something sure smells good.Winston Shakespeare: It's my cologne, it's new.
Stella Payne: I meant the food.
Winston Shakespeare: Oh.
Stella Payne: [in her mind] I meant the cologne.
See more »
Soundtracks
Let Me Have YouPerformed by Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Written by Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Produced and Arranged by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for Flyte Tyme Productions,
Inc. and Meshell Ndegeocello (as Me'Shell N'degéocello)
Me'Shell N'degéocello appears courtesy of Maverick Recording Company
See more »
Angela Bassett delivers another wonderful performance (is she not one of the greatest actors of out time?), but unfortunately, it's not enough to raise this movie to the level of greatness I expected from it.
There's no doubt, the film is beautiful to look at and the performances are good all around. But the script is lacking that certain something that makes you believe the whys and hows. We can certainly understand why Stella fell in love with that 20 year old--he's gorgeous, sincere and very mature for his age. But the crucial information we're missing is why he falls for her.
He approaches her because of her physcial beauty, but stays for an unknown reason. Why WOULD a 20 year old be so willing to pursue a woman twice his age after a casual meeting? Why is he so mature and understanding at such a young age? We'll never know and that's what kept me from believing this film.
Another problem is the seemingly pointless demise of one of the characters (I won't say who). This event didn't carry the story forward and acted more as a detractor from the plot that anything else. It should have been used to help the other characters develop, but it instead that little subplot dissolved into oblivion.
Overall, I would certainly recommend Stella. It was an enjoyable and sincere story. But it could have been so much better.