How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

Director:

Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Writers (WGA):

Terry McMillan (novel)
Terry McMillan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

14 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Drama

Tagline:

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

Plot:

Stella is a highly successful, forty-something San Francisco stock broker who is persuaded by her colorful...

Plot Keywords:

Jamaica | Vacation | Cancer | Age Difference | African American

Awards:

4 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Angela Bassett	...	Stella Payne
Taye Diggs	...	Winston Shakespeare
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Delilah Abraham
Regina King	...	Vanessa
Suzzanne Douglas	...	Angela
Michael J. Pagan	...	Quincy Payne
Sicily	...	Chantel
Richard Lawson	...	Jack
Barry Shabaka Henley	...	Buddy
Lee Weaver	...	Nate
Glynn Turman	...	Dr. Shakespeare
Phyllis Yvonne Stickney	...	Mrs. Shakespeare
Denise Hunt	...	Ms. Thang
Lisa Hanna	...	Abby
James Pickens Jr.	...	Walter Payne

Also Known As:

How Stella Got Her Groove Back On (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:M18 | Iceland:L | USA:R (certificate #36023) | Argentina:13 | Chile:14

Filming Locations:

Glendale Exchange, Glendale, California, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

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."

Goofs:

Continuity: While Stella and Winston argue in the restaurant, the level of wine in her glass keeps changing.

Quotes:

Stella: [eating breakfast] Something sure smells good.
Winston Shakespeare: It's my cologne, it's new.
Stella: I meant the food.
Winston Shakespeare: Oh.
Stella: [in her mind] I meant the cologne.

Movie Connections:

References "Hard Copy" (1987)

Soundtrack:

Your Home Is In My Heart

'Stella' lacks groove

Angela Bassett ("Waiting to Exhale") is talented and buff as Stella, a single mother/career woman who's in need of a vacation. Stella decides to head for Jamaica with her best friend, Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg in a fine supporting role). Stella meets 20-year-old Winston (Taye Diggs). They fall in love, in-spite of Stella's emotional insecurities. Terry McMillan adapted from her novel based on her real-life experience. I hate to say this, but unlike "Waiting to Exhale," this overlong movie barely holds up to the book, because of too many plot holes and too many unnecessary characters. On the contrary, Diggs turns in an impressive performance as well. My evaluation: ** out of ****.