InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Guillelmina The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

Staci Frederick Blistering performances.

Armand one of films only for lead actors fans. a confuse story with a high potential . a lot of events without purpose. Madonna and Rupert Everett. strange choices, too many characters without precise status, a baby like project and ball - in same measure, and something else, very obscure. the acting seems be result of hard improvisation and the roles are just images discovered on train window. a strange movie who could be only occasion for the two actors to note another characters in CV. sure, the good intentions are not little. but the message of film is obvious only a fog wall. and it is the essential bad thing. because it demonstrates a not inspired script, a director who do not know what he want, a large improvisation who has not beginning or end.

islandsavagechild Hundreds of years from now, I imagine historians and archeologists, not to mention film preservationists, will spend years and years gazing in puzzled horror at Madonna's body of film. It will evoke feelings similar to the nausea, fear and disbelief we feel now while studying Mayan hieroglyphics of wholesale human sacrifice and ritual slaughter. Only much less interesting, naturally. What is it about Madonna? In movie after movie we have to endure the excruciating process of her struggling with all her might to bring a human emotion to her face. This Herculean labor, brought to its absolute zenith in Evita, but not much abated here, may be great fun for afficionados of porn acting, but for the rest of us: sheer torture. Then there's her voice. She delivers her lines like a tenth-grader playing Hamlet's mother, but with less conviction. Madonna seems entirely incapable of expressing intelligence or emotion, but if she would just let her hair down and act like the good old all-American tramp she is, all might be forgiven. Alas, she seems to have some curious delusions of grandeur. She is the most self-conscious bad actor who ever disgraced a movie screen, and yet she doesn't have the nerve to be camp. Is it possible to be wooden and plastic at the same time? Madonna manages to make Jenna Jameson look like Judi Dench. The movie? Couldn't tell you a thing about it.

Agnelin "The next best thing" is a fine, entertaining film that combines genuinely funny parts with a mild, non-patronizing social commentary on gay rights and the new family types that are becoming more and more common nowadays. It asks for a great exercise of suspension of disbelief, since some of the behaviours and coincidences shown in it are hard to believe, but this didn't hurt my enjoyment of this film and the good opinion I have of it.Madonna stars as Abby, who has just called it quits with her latest boyfriend and has a romantic encounter with her best, gay friend, Robert, as a result of which she falls pregnant, and they become Sam's parents, two best friends living under the same roof with their child. The perfect family, until things begin to get a little complicated...The movie starts as a comedy with some elements of romance, but it isn't as predictable as it might appear, and it contains some delightful twists. Madonna does a decent job as the main character, and she composes a quite likable single mom.The weakest side of the film is, in my opinion, the ending, that comes a little too abruptly -I felt that some things weren't properly explained. However, I would recommend the film to anyone who wishes to sit and enjoy an above average comedic drama with nice characters.

Amy Adler Abbie (Madonna), a yoga instructor with her own studio, has bad luck with men. The only man who really connects with her is Robert (Rupert Everett), a dear friend, who happens to be gay. One special evening, Abbie and Robert become somewhat drunk and end up sleeping together. One can guess the result. Abbie becomes pregnant. Abbie hastily convinces Robert that romance is overrated, that they should move in together, and that they should raise the child as a couple. Everything goes wonderfully until Abbie meets Ben (Benjamin Bratt). Suddenly, Abbie is in love and things are going to get complicated. Will there be a happy ending for everyone involved?This movie has so many assets. Madonna looks beautiful and acts with feeling, Everett is his usual wonderful self, and Bratt delivers another fine performance, too. The child actor who plays the son is very effective as well. Adding to the good dramatics is a gorgeous California setting, some nice costumes, and a touching script. The ending is a guaranteed to send one running to the tissue box. Okay. One understands that not everyone is enamored with Madonna. If you can get past HER past, give this movie a try. It is a fine example of sensitivity and intelligence on its gay issues, for one, while delivering a romance for those who clamor for more, more, more in that particular film category.