Stepmom

Isabel is an early middle aged woman dedicated to her work. With her career being a priority, she never wanted children. She finds herself cast into a position of helping her boyfriend Luke raise his two children. Although her new role of “the other mother” is not full-time, she now is living off and on with two children in a situation she never dreamed she would be in. The children, Anna and Ben, are at the heart of this story as Isabel’s trials as a stepmom are given a critical eye by the children’s mother, Jackie. From envy to friendship, Isabel and Jackie share the hardships of life and divorce. These two women have more in common than they think. + Stepmom is an eye watering, true to life comedy/drama. It is the evolving of a relationship between two women and the family they love. * The characters are part of a normal American family; the plot is heartfelt, humorous, and realistic; anyone can feel their joy as well as their pain.

The characters are part of a normal American family. This is an emotionally packed suitcase that belongs to this family. Anna and Ben spend their time traveling from one parent’s home to another. Different thoughts and opinions are being processed into their young minds as their worlds are divided between father and mother as well as stepmom. “The kids have been tutored to resent this new woman in their dad’s life” said Robert Ebert from Chicago Sun-Times. Jealousy is a common attribute to have when one feels as though something important is being taken away. Jackie perceives Isabel as irresponsible and only cares for herself and her career. She certainly does not feel Isabel is giving her best to raise her children. When Isabel lost the adventurous Ben while working at a photo shoot, it was Luke who tried calming Jackie down. He commented that Jackie was more upset about Isabel being in their children’s life than about the possibility of any real danger to Ben. “You know that the kids aren’t in any real danger, this is about Isabel.” He was right and Jackie knew it. For Isabel, she felt backed up against the wall by Jackie and her two children. It was going to be a hard struggle to make it in this relationship with Luke, Jackie, Anna, and Ben. However, during the trials of this seemingly dysfunctional situation, Jackie has discovered a former enemy has come back to haunt her, cancer. Jackie tries to keep the secret from her children, Luke and Isabel. It is Isabel, the “outsider,” that picks up on the changes in Jackie.

The plot is heartfelt, humorous, and realistic. Time is ticking away and despite Isabel’s efforts, Jackie, Anna, and Ben continue to be critical and unaccepting. Isabel even goes as far as to present the children with a new puppy. Anna suggests on naming the puppy Isabel because, “Well, it kind of smells like you, and I’m allergic to you too, so it fits perfectly.” Children can be so blunt and callous when it comes to saying what they think. A horse ride during a breezy day with the smell of crisp air, Jackie and her children share a moment of hidden truth. Ben, having words of his own tells his mother that he thinks Isabel is pretty. Not letting go of her jealousy, Jackie responds with “Sure, if you like big teeth.” A surprised response from her son makes Jackie think as she hears his innocent voice, “Mommy, if you want me to hate her I will.” Jackie realizes that she may be poisoning her children’s thoughts and feelings about her own jealousy and insecurities.

Leaves begin to change colors and the fresh, crisp smell of fall is all around. The children are with Luke and Isabel and Anna has allowed Isabel to help with her art project. Anna realizes there may be more to Isabel than she has allowed herself to believe. Maybe she isn’t so terrible after all. Maybe Isabel is slowly becoming a better mother. Unfortunately “every time she’s late with a school pickup, Jackie turns up like an avenging angel with sarcastic criticisms” to put her back down, wrote Roger Ebert from Chicago Sun Times. But as the story progresses, it is Jackie who starts being away more often from her kids due to chemotherapy. Isabel’s