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The Other Woman review


            If you saw Step-mom with Susan Sarandon and Julia Roberts, the subject of The Other Woman may seem a little bit redundant. This isn’t to say that it isn’t well done, because Natalie Portman and Lisa Kudrow (to a slightly lesser degree) give compelling and believable performances. The film is competently shot and well written, but somehow I just can’t get excited about the predictable bit of melodrama which unfolds ever too painfully.

Based on the Ayelet Waldman novel entitles “Love and Other Impossible Pursuits,” The Other Woman follows the struggles of Emilia (Portman) as she tries to adjust to her new life married to Jack (Scott Cohen). Emilia is a recent Harvard law school graduate, but her biggest difficulties are with Jack’s son. It doesn’t help matters that Emilia began her relationship with Jack while working for him and while he was still married.

As the home wrecker, Emilia must find a way to build a home. With the damaging effects of a failed pregnancy, Emilia has an even more difficult time with her stepson William (Charlie Tahan). When her techniques as a mother don’t work out well, she brings the wrath of his biological mother (Kudrow) on herself, and threatens her marriage in the process.

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