The Next Best Thing
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJohn Schlesinger
Written byTom Ropelewski
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyElliot Davis
Edited byPeter Honess
Music byGabriel Yared
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures (North America)
Buena Vista International (International)
Release date
  • March 3, 2000 (2000-03-03)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$25 million
Box office$24.3 million[1]

The Next Best Thing is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by John Schlesinger (his final feature film before his death in 2003) about two best friends who have a child together and a custody battle years after. Starring Madonna, Rupert Everett, and Benjamin Bratt, it opened to the number-two position in the North American box office and poor critical reviews. The accompanying soundtrack album was appreciated by music critics. Its lead single, "American Pie" reached the number-one in various countries and helped to introduce Don McLean's song to newer audiences.

Plot

Two best friends – Abbie, a heterosexual woman, and Robert, a gay man – decide to have a child together. Five years later, Abbie falls in love with a heterosexual man and wants to move away with him and Robert's son Sam, and a nasty custody battle ensues.

Cast

Cast taken from Variety and Turner Classic Movies listing of The Next Best Thing.[2][3]

Production

The film began as an original screenplay titled The Red Curtain by Tom Ropelewski, which he intended to direct, with his wife Leslie Dixon to produce. It was announced to be made in 1995 with Richard Dreyfuss attached to star as Robert; he dropped out, then Helen Hunt was named as female lead to play Abbie. She was replaced by Madonna and then Rupert Everett signed on as star. Filming took place between April 23 and June 30, 1999. It later was claimed the script was rewritten extensively by Ryan Murphy and Rupert Everett.[4]

Reception

Critical response

The film received a 19% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 94 reviews, with an average rating of 3.8/10. The website's critical consensus states: "Story elements clash and acting falls short."[5] On Metacritic, the film has rating of 25 out of 100 based on 31 reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[6]

Variety commented, "to a good movie is a well-intentioned one, and at the end of the day, that less-than-compelling consolation prize is about the best thing one can hand this resoundingly adequate Advanced Family Values comedy-drama".[2] Roger Ebert gave the film one star out of four, stating: "The Next Best Thing is a garage sale of gay issues, harnessed to a plot as exhausted as a junkman's horse."[7]

Box office

The film opened at number two at the North American box office, making USD$5,870,387, behind The Whole Nine Yards. The film grossed $14,990,582 in the U.S. and $24,362,772 worldwide on a $25 million budget.[1]

Accolades

Award Category Recipient Result
GLAAD Media Award[8] Outstanding Film – Wide Release The Next Best Thing Nominated
Golden Raspberry Awards[9] Worst Picture The Next Best Thing Nominated
Worst Screenplay John Kohn and Robert Bentley Nominated
Worst Actress Madonna Won
Worst Screen Combo Madonna and Rupert Everett Nominated
Worst Director John Schlesinger Nominated
Stinkers Bad Movie Awards[10] Worst Actress and Musician or Athlete Who Shouldn't Be Acting Madonna Won

In 2020, Screen Rant ranked it among the best Madonna movie roles.[11] CNN film critic, Paul Clinton, named The Next Best Thing one of the Top 10 worst movies of 2000.[12]

Soundtrack

The Next Best Thing (Music from the Motion Picture)
Soundtrack album by
Various Artists
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2000[13]
Recorded1997–1999
Length49:31
Label
Producer
Singles from The Next Best Thing (Music from the Motion Picture)
  1. "American Pie"
    Released: February 2, 2000

The soundtrack album was released by Maverick Records on February 22, 2000. Madonna was executive producer on the soundtrack and hand-picked all the tracks that appeared.[14][15] The album had two new songs from Madonna: "Time Stood Still" (an original track co-written and co-produced with William Orbit) and a cover of Don McLean's "American Pie".[16] The album also included tracks by Moby, Beth Orton, Christina Aguilera, and Groove Armada.[17][18]

Track listing

No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Boom Boom Ba"Métisse 
2."Bongo Bong"Manu Chao 
3."Don't Make Me Love You ('Til I'm Ready)"Christina Aguilera 
4."American Pie"Madonna 
5."This Life"Mandalay 
6."If Everybody Looked the Same"Groove Armada 
7."Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?"Moby 
8."I'm Not in Love"Olive 
9."Stars All Seem to Weep"Beth Orton 
10."Time Stood Still"Madonna 
11."Swayambhu"Solar Twins 
12."Forever and Always"Gabriel Yared 
Total length:49:31

Reception

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
Baltimore Sun[20]
Calgary Herald[21]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[16]
Indiana GazetteB[22]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette[23]
Portland Press HeraldB+[14]
The San Diego Union-Tribune[24]
Vancouver Sun[15]
Windsor Star[25]

The soundtrack received generally positive feedback from music journalists. Various reviewers praised Madonna's hand-pick selection and Madonna's songs. Portland Press Herald editor Michael Histen called it a "strong collection" and complimented the release as a "cohesive collection, and one of the better soundtracks in quite some time".[14] The Washington Post's Richard Harrington, described "Most of this soundtrack has a cool luster to it".[26] Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was overall positive towards the soundtrack, concluding "It's not great, but it's the next best thing".[23] Kerry Gold, from Vancouver Sun, similarly described the album as "the next best thing to an excellent soundtrack".[15]

Other reviewers praised soundtrack's dance-oriented songs. According to Billboard, the album is a "clubber's dream",[18] and a "pop/dance punter's dream" that have "groovy mix of global beats" and "intertwines the old with the new".[27] New York Daily News made similar remarks, complimenting the music style featured on the soundtrack, describing the album as "nouvelle electronica", "a revolutionary mix of woozy electronics and retro-lounge sounds".[28] Writing for The Baltimore Sun, J. D. Considine considered "is the next best thing to a new Madonna album", further describing "anyone who was a fan of her last album, 1998's Ray of Light" will find much to like about The Next Best Thing.[20] J. D. Considine complimented "Time Stood Still" as "far more convincing" describing it as "mournful, Latin-tinged ballad".[20] Jim Farber, in his review for Orlando Sentinel overall praised the soundtrack, and also complimented "Time Stood Still" saying "her best ballad since 'Take a Bow'; vocally, Madonna "has never sounded more beautiful than on her other song".[29] In a mixed response, Howard Cohen from the Miami Herald commented "American Pie" is the "best thing" on the album while "the rest is the usual soundtrack grab-bag of found oldies".[30] Kevin C. Johnson, from St. Louis Post-Dispatch was overall critical calling the soundtrack a "horrific material".[31] Courier News referred the soundtrack is "as impersonal as the film's storyline".[32]

Commercial performance

The Next Best Thing debuted and peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart,[33] staying at least 8 weeks on the chart.[34] Two months after its release, in April 2000, the album had sold over 155,000 copies in the US according to Nielsen SoundScan.[35] The album also charted in Austria, Germany and elsewhere. The song "American Pie" climbed to the top of charts in the UK, Italy, Australia, Germany, and other territories. "Time Stood Still" also reached the number 3 in Czech Republic.[36]

Impact

The soundtrack album helped boost US sales for British band Olive's album, Extra Virgin (1996).[35] Billboard's Michael Paoletta commented, the band "stirred much interest of its sophomore album".[37] "American Pie" also revived "interest in [Don] McLean's magnum opus" according to publications such as Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI),[38] and writer Nat Shapiro.[39] Fred Bronson, chart columinist of Billboard, noted Madonna was the first artist to have a number-one song of an "American Pie" cover in the UK. It also extended Madonna's record of most-number one singles in the UK by a female artist; at that time, double that Whitney Houston and Kylie Minogue, with four each.[40]

Charts and sales

Chart (2000) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[41] 16
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[42] 19
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 55
US Billboard 200[33] 34
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United States — 155,000[lower-alpha 1]

Home media

On August 26, 2000, Billboard announced the film will debut on DVD and VHS from Paramount Home Entertainment, although spokespeople would not confirm it.[44] The release debuted at number 20 on Billboard's Top DVD Sales,[45] and peaked at number 11 on the Top Video Rentals chart.[46] The Philadelphia Inquirer gave 2 out of four stars.[47]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ US sales as of April 2000, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[35]

References

  1. 1 2 The Next Best Thing at Box Office Mojo
  2. 1 2 "The Next Best Thing". March 21, 2000. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. ↑ "The Next Best Thing". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. ↑ Nat Segaloff, Final Cuts: The Last Films of 50 Great Directors, Bear Manor Media 2013 p 258-260
  5. ↑ The Next Best Thing at Rotten Tomatoes
  6. ↑ The Next Best Thing at Metacritic
  7. ↑ Ebert, Roger (3 March 2000). "The Next Best Thing". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  8. ↑ "GLAAD Announces Nominees For 12th Annual Media Awards Presented by Absolut Vodka". GLAAD. January 16, 2001. Archived from the original on April 9, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. ↑ "'Battlefield' rules in Razzies' list of bad flicks". CNN. February 12, 2001. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. ↑ Vice, Jeff (March 25, 2001). "'Battlefield Earth' sweeps the Stinkers". Deseret News. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  11. ↑ Thompson, Rocco (April 27, 2020). "10 Madonna Movie Roles, Ranked". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  12. ↑ Clinton, Paul (December 29, 2000). "The 10 worst movies of 2000". CNN. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. ↑ Fitzpatrick, Eileen (February 12, 2000). "newsline... In an effort". Billboard. p. 75. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  14. 1 2 3 Histen, Michael (March 26, 2000). "'Virgin Suicides' soundtrack ethereal as Air". Portland Press Herald. p. 5E. ProQuest 276986670. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Gold, Kerry (February 24, 2000). "CD Reviews". Vancouver Sun. p. C14. ProQuest 242719526. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Browne, David (February 25, 2000). "The Next Best Thing". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  17. ↑ "> Discography > The Next Best Thing". Madonna.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  18. 1 2 "Dance Trax". Billboard. February 19, 2000. p. 32. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  19. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "The Next Best Thing - Original Soundtrack - Album Review". AllMusic. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  20. 1 2 3 J. D. Considine (February 23, 2000). "Madonna is second string on soundtrack; Review: The singer is not the only voice on the CD that accompanies her new movie, "The Next Big Thing."". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  21. ↑ "CD Reviews". Calgary Herald. March 9, 2000. p. HL16. ProQuest 244786670. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Reviews: The Next Best Thing". Indiana Gazette. March 4, 2000. p. 10. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  23. 1 2 "Album Reviews". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. April 23, 2000. p. G-2. ProQuest 391314091. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  24. ↑ Poindexter, Gerald (February 20, 2000). "Album Reviews: Soundtrack". The San Diego Union-Tribune. ProQuest 271653858. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  25. ↑ "CD Reviews". Windsor Star. June 22, 2000. p. E6. ProQuest 254353683. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  26. ↑ Harrington, Richard (March 12, 2000). "'Freedom' Ring!". Washington Post. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  27. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (March 4, 2000). "Reviews & Previews". Billboard. p. 40. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Madonna: What's 'Next' Soundtrack To Her New Film Has A Catchy 'Nouvelle' Sound". New York Daily News. February 20, 2000. Archived from the original on October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  29. ↑ Farber, Jim (February 25, 2000). "Madonna & Others The Next Best Thing". Orlando Sentinel. p. 9. ProQuest 279457720. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  30. ↑ Cohen, Howard (February 25, 2000). Miami Herald (ed.). "'Pie' is best thing on 'Next Best Thing'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. p. 23E. ProQuest 261040610. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  31. ↑ Johnson, Kevin C. (February 24, 2000). "CDs". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. GO19. ProQuest 403995365. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  32. ↑ Makin, Robert (March 2, 2000). "Album Reviews". Courier News. p. D10. ProQuest 378001325. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  33. 1 2 "The Billboard 200". Billboard. March 11, 2000. p. 88. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  34. ↑ "The Billboard 200". Billboard. April 29, 2000. p. 101. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  35. 1 2 3 Paoletta, Michael (April 15, 2000). "Artists & Music: Soundtrack Cut Gives Boost To Olive's New Maverick Set". Billboard. p. 16. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Hitparada RADIO 2001. 13 tyden" (in Czech). ČNS IFPI. Archived from the original on April 5, 2002. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
  37. ↑ Paoletta, Michael (June 10, 2000). "Reviews & Previews: Albums: Pop: Olive". Billboard. p. 30. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  38. ↑ Britt, Bruce (March 31, 2000). ""American Pie" More Than Just a Song". Broadcast Music, Inc. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  39. ↑ Bronson, Fred (March 18, 2000). "Chart Beat: A Single As British As 'American Pie'". Billboard. p. 94. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Soundtrack – The Next Best Thing" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  41. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Soundtrack – The Next Best Thing" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  42. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – The Next Best Thing". Hung Medien. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  43. ↑ Block, Debbie Galante (August 26, 2000). "Billboard's 4th Quarter Video Buyer's Guide". Billboard. p. 75. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  44. ↑ "Top DVD Sales: September 16, 2000". Billboard. September 16, 2000. p. 74. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  45. ↑ "Top Video Rentals: October 21, 2000". Billboard. October 21, 2000. p. 78. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  46. ↑ Cornell, Christopher (September 3, 2000). The Philadelphia Inquirer (ed.). "Video Reviews". The Telegraph-Herald. p. 68. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
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