In Her Shoes - A Movie Review

You never know what anybody’s life is like until you walk in their shoes.

In Her Shoes was released to theaters in 2005. Fed up with her partying sister, Rose orders Maggie, out. Trying to find somewhere to stay, Maggie discovers a grandmother whom they have never met. During their time apart, the sisters realize how much they need one another.

Tales about siblings make the best thought-provoking stories. In Her Shoes immediately sparked my interest. Telling the tale in two separate story arcs, the girls learn a lesson about themselves and life.

Starring Toni Collette and Cameron Diaz as two contrasting sisters, I had this film on my watch list. Collette is always superb at connecting to her characters, but it is Diaz who is the standout. Learning how to become an adult, Maggie reconnects with life, finding her purpose. Collette had one scene where she unleashed an over-due rant to someone. It was the best!

Collette and Diaz brought a believable sibling relationship to the screen. Rose and Maggie learn the value of having a sibling. I enjoyed moments where they talked, reconnecting about their past. Their arguments were well-acted. I would not want to get caught in the middle of one of their fights.

In early planning, the roles in which the characters were going to be played were flipped. Part of me wishes that we could have seen that film. Because Collette and Diaz get typecast, I thought it would have been an interesting idea. The roles would have challenged them.

Shirley MacLaine does an outstanding job. Finally meeting her granddaughter, Ella is at first standoffish. I adore the relationship that blossoms between Ella and Maggie. It’s a wonderful example of building relationships with your grandparents. Again, age does not matter. We can all learn something about ourselves and change.

In Her Shoes holds the talents of multiple energetic characters. The best character award goes to Francine Beers, an old woman with a funny sense of humor. And another award goes to the late Norman Lloyd as a loyal old man. His scenes with Diaz made me smile or tear up.

Other credits include Anson Mount, Richard Burgi, Ken Howard, Candice Azzara, Brooke Smith, and several more. The importance of the ensemble reveals what effect they have on the women. The residents in the senior center made for some funny scenes.

Rose and Maggie’s father, Michael (Howard) could have been involved in the story more. He’s mainly there as the exposition, but we could have had more scenes to develop his relationship with his daughters.

The film is all about finding you. Live the life that you want. No matter the age, we are always growing. Curtis Hanson distributed a story about siblings. Siblings are important. We will have our disagreements, but in the end, our siblings will always be here for us.

Curtis planned out both angles of the films with great direction. He also gave the characters the right amount of screen-time. That’s what I liked about this film. Some directors tend to put too much focus on one character instead of giving equal scenes.

You can never judge a person until you walk in their shoes. In Her Shoes teaches viewers the definition of love. There is a right and wrong way to love someone. Love is never lost. Before we love anyone, we need to love ourselves.

If you ever feel lost, take an adventure. The movie made me laugh and smile. In Her Shoes is about character development and interaction. I recommend that you watch this film. It’s an enjoyable adventure.