How Stella Got Her Groove Back

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back

R

Released Aug 14, 1998

2h 4m

Romance

Comedy

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Popcornmeter

50%

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50 Reviews

66%

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25,000+ Ratings

Unlucky-in-love stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica with her gal pal Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some fun in the sun. There, the 40-year-old working woman has an island fling with Winston (Taye Diggs) -- a handsome 20-something. When it's time to return to California, Stella realizes that she's developed real feelings for her new man. But, with their distance from each other, not to mention their disparity in age, does a real relationship stand a chance?

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Critics Consensus

Angela Bassett gracefully breezes through a hot summer fling without much conflict or ado, leaving us wondering when -- or if -- she's ever getting that groove back.

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Duane Byrge

The Hollywood Reporter

Adapted from Terry McMillan's ribald, heartfelt novel and starring Angela Bassett in the title role, Stella's got plenty of style and brains. It's a sexier, sassier version of Hollywood's old-time romancers.

Sep 3, 2020

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Lisa Schwarzbaum

Entertainment Weekly

Whoopi Goldberg adds a whole lotta jerk pork as the heroine’s best friend in a plot devoid of real conflict...

Rated: C-

Sep 7, 2011

Full Review

Liam Lacey

Globe and Mail

The movie meanders on and on, like a bad sexual dream, until you finally wake up mumbling: Stella, please: leave that groove thang alone.

Rated: 2/4

Apr 12, 2002

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David Ehrenstein

New Times

The timing couldn't be better for How Stella Got Her Groove Back.

Oct 3, 2017

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Feb 21, 2008

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Lori Hoffman

Atlantic City Weekly

Rated: 3/5

Apr 20, 2007

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Cecilia S

Angela Bassett proves that not only she is beautiful but, she has joined hollywood's elite. Taye Diggs gives a wonderful preformance as her younger love interest. The chemistry between the two was hotter then that of Gere and Robert's(Pretty Woman). Whoopi Goldberg was totally refresh as a true comedic relief. Her preformance has rarely been matched and she delivered punchline after punchline. A movie for everyones library.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/14/25

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erdene c

what a beautifully shot film

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/23/24

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Munkhjargal A

this movie was about love. The film was able to show how a long distance relationship passes through the two of them, who had a lot of age difference.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/22/24

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Bahad j

The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/29/24

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Steve D

Its message is a bit muddled but the cast is great.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

09/21/23

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Audience Member

Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg, Regina King, and Taye Diggs star in a romantic drama based on the novel by Terry McMillan Bassett plays Stella and she'll need to find her groove again Stella used to be married but got divorced and she has her son Her friend, Delilah urges her to find a man to feel happy and complete But Stella is perfectly content being a working woman stock broker She then takes a trip to Jamaica There she meets an islander named Winston Shakespeare They fall in love but can Stella really find passion and happiness? Responsibilities and companionship are what Stella wrestles with and with Winston pointing out her flaws of always making a plan of her own to course through life The movie acts as a good social commentary and shows an all-black cast can carry a film appealing to a wider audience It’s very romantic, funny, and Bassett and Diggs work so well together Good free escapism featuring Jamaica as a breathtaking backdrop even if the main character doesn’t have too much of a challenge to face when finding her passions

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

08/29/23

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Kevin Rodney Sullivan

Director

Angela Bassett

Stella Payne

Taye Diggs

Winston Shakespeare

Regina King

Vanessa

Whoopi Goldberg

Delilah Abraham

Suzzanne Douglas

Angela

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83%

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Waiting to Exhale

56%

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Synopsis

Unlucky-in-love stockbroker Stella (Angela Bassett) jets to Jamaica with her gal pal Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg) for some fun in the sun. There, the 40-year-old working woman has an island fling with Winston (Taye Diggs) -- a handsome 20-something. When it's time to return to California, Stella realizes that she's developed real feelings for her new man. But, with their distance from each other, not to mention their disparity in age, does a real relationship stand a chance?

Director: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
Producer: Deborah Schindler
Screenwriter: Terry McMillan, Ronald Bass
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Co: 20th Century Fox
Rating: R
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 14, 1998, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 25, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA): $37.7M
Runtime: 2h 4m
Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1), 35mm

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