I liked the look of this movie and it's plot line from the get-go. Stella may be rich,successful,attractive and "all that" but she's burned out on her job and really has no social life to speak of. She's always either at work or at home. You'd lose the "groove" of your life (not to mention your mind) if you had to keep that up for a long time! Thankfully,in steps her good friend (played by Whoopi Goldberg) who takes her on a long overdue vacation and gets her to unwind and relax and stop thinking about back home and the problems that go with it. The scenes between Goldberg and Bassett are fuuu-nny! Especially the guy who's trying to pick up on Goldberg. Stella then meets a young man nearly 20 years her junior and Whoopi encourages her to go for it (to put it in G-Rated form). SHe's reluctant but she goes for him and he goes for her and he ends up living with her. naturally,being just about out of his late teens,he still has very immature ways about him (like enjoying the movie "Booty Call").If you need to know the rest about their relationship,I highly suggest renting or even buying the movie. Now so far it sounds like I'm doing a "10 star" review,well,I'm not. I've deducted 2 stars for the "terminal illness" of Goldberg's character,who then passes away. Up until then,I was really enjoying this movie,writing that kind of story and scene in was truly unnecessary.The main point to me about this film is,you can have it all and have worked hard for it but if it consumes all your energies,you truly will have no life or groove left. Let loose once in awhile and do what makes you happy. (END)

Angela Bassett does an outstanding job. To those of you who can't understand why Stella needs her groove back, you have only to look up the word mundane. No matter how much money you have or Chanel suits you own that doesn't mean you have true companionship. We all want a real connection someone to hold us, love us and tell us it will get better. And that transcends age and socio economics. Sometimes people are right on time. No one can go through the world completely alone. We never know what or how long any relationship will last so I suppose the most important thing is to seize the day. Make your own reality and Stella does that with dignity and with pride and admittedly with hesitation and fear. That's the sign of a very real character! Someone who is vulnerable. Someone you can understand even if you're not in the same situation.

"How Stella Got her Groove Back" was a refreshing change from the legion of "Hood" movies that have infested the 1990's. The movie; based on the Terry McMillan novel by the same name; stars: Angela Bassett as a fortyish six-figure income, single mom that falls for a young stud while vacationing in Jamaica."Stella" did not have a plot that revolved around: violence, guns and drugs. It effectively portrays the stigma attached to a older woman-younger man relationship, without pandering to a lot of ethnic stereotypes! It showed what a fine actress Angela Bassett was. It also showed Angela Bassett in skivvies!Every woman that has been accused of "Robbing the Cradle" can relate to this motion picture! How Stella got Her Groove Back effectively portrayed an age gap love story. It takes character to see beyond the age difference in a romantic relationship.

It was picked out of my girlfriend in the video-store, and I didn't have so high hopes for it. I was wrong. The movie is funny, romantic and there are enough nice looking babes as well as men (esp. one man acc. to my gf) :)Absolutely highly recommended for a saturday evening.