5.6/10
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How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

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0:30 | Trailer

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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 »

Writers:

Terry McMillan (novel), Terry McMillan (screenplay) | 1 more credit »
4 wins & 8 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Angela Bassett ... Stella Payne
Taye Diggs ... Winston Shakespeare
Whoopi Goldberg ... Delilah Abraham
Regina King ... Vanessa
Suzzanne Douglas ... Angela
Michael J. Pagan ... Quincy Payne
Sicily Johnson ... Chantel (as Sicily)
Richard Lawson ... Jack
Barry Shabaka Henley ... Buddy
Lee Weaver ... Nate
Glynn Turman ... Dr. Shakespeare
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney ... Mrs. Shakespeare
Denise Hunt Denise Hunt ... Ms. Thang
Lisa Hanna Lisa Hanna ... Abby
James Pickens Jr. ... Walter Payne
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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 Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Sometimes you have to break the rules to free your heart.

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality | See all certifications »
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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 August 1998 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

How Stella Got Her Groove Back On See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$11,318,919, 16 August 1998, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$37,672,350, 10 January 1999
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
See full technical specs »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie was based on a book by Terry McMillan who wrote about her own life and marriage to Jamaican Jonathan Plummer in 1998. She was in her late 40s and he in his early 20s. In December 2004, Plummer told McMillan that he was gay and in March 2005, she filed for divorce. He essentially only married her so he could leave Jamaica and gain American citizenship. 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 »

Connections

Referenced in Whose Line Is It Anyway?: Show No. 514 (2003) See more »

Soundtracks

Rivers Of Babylon
Performed by The Upbeaters
Written by Brent Dowe, Frank Farian, Trevor McNaughton and George Reyam
See more »

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User Reviews

**1/2 Film has no groove even if Stella does
17 February 2000 | by Bil-3See all my reviews

Stella gets her groove back, alright, but the film is still in need by the time you get to the end credits. Angela Bassett gives a kick-ass performance in the title role as a fortysomething woman who can't decide what to do when she falls in love with twenty-one year-old Taye Diggs while on vacation at a resort in Jamaica. Do 'im is what I say: if a woman like Bassett looks that good at the age of forty she deserves the best of everything. Besides, Diggs doesn't look nearly young enough for the part, and that keeps reality at bay for the two and some odd hours that the film runs at. The scene where teenage girls get in line behind the couple at a movie theatre and give Stella dirty looks for robbing the cradle always puzzles me; if I were that young an age and found myself standing behind Angela Bassett I'd be asking her what kind of skin creams does she use and does she work out and maybe there might be a portrait hidden in her attic that has all her sins hanging off it? Whoopi Goldberg gives the best and funniest performance in the film, but even she can't prevent the script by Ronald Bass and Terry McMillan (upon whose novel this is based) from seeming like it's two or three drafts short of being finished. Watch it if only for a great soundtrack and some beautiful photography of Jamaica's beaches.


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