The Next Best Thing
Movie artwork
Pictures
Cast
Madonna: Abbie Reynolds
Rupert Everett: Robert Whittaker
Benjamin Bratt: Ben Cooper
Illeana Douglas: Elizabeth Ryder
Michael Vartan: Kevin Lasater
Josef Sommer: Richard Whittaker
Malcolm Stumpf: Sam
Lynn Redgrave: Helen Whittaker
Neil Patrick Harris: David
Mark Valley: Cardiologist
Suzanne Krull: Annabel
Stacy Edwards: Finn
John Carroll Lynch: Abbie's Lawyer
Fran Bennett: Judge Tracey Bennett
Ricki Lopez: Angel
Ramiro Fabian: Flavio
Tiffany Paulsen: Young Mother
Joan Axelrod: Bel Air Matron
George Axelrod: Bel Air Man
Jack Betts: Vernon
William Mesnik: Ashby
Irene Roseen: Lena
Gavin Lambert: Ricky
Movie synopsis
Abbie (Madonna) is in her thirties and unlucky in love. When she sees another boyfriend walking out the door, she decides to get drunk with her best gay friend Robert (Rupert Everett). Soon it turns out that their party night has some sonsequences: Abbie is expecting Robert's child. They decide to raise the child together, as friends. All is going well, until Abbie starts dating Ben (Benjamin Bratt). The once so warm friendship between Abbie and Robert cools down, as they meet in court for a heavy custody battle...
Production info
US working title: The Red Curtain
Directed by: John Schlesinger
Screenplay written by: Tom Ropelewski, Leslie Dixon, Mel Bordeaux, Rupert Everett
Produced by: Leslie Dixon, Linne Radmin, Tom Rosenberg
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Location: LA
Date of filming: April 1999
Budget: $ 25 million
Release info
Released as: The Next Best Thing
Released in theatres: March 3, 2000 (Worldwide)
Released on DVD: Aug. 29, 2000 (US)
Runtime: 108 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Drama
MPAA rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, partial nudity and language.
Box office: $ 15 million (US) / £ 662,000 (UK)
Trivia
On the set, Rupert Everett suggested to Madonna that she'd record her own version of American Pie, the song that's sung during the funeral in the movie. After he had her convinced, he agreed to do backing vocals for the track.
Awards
2001 GLAAD Media Award:
Nomination for 'Outstanding Film'
2000 YoungStar Award:
Nomination for 'Best Young Actor/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy' (Malcolm Stumpf)
Soundtrack
The movie soundtrack contains two songs by Madonna. Read more in our Discography section.