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'In Her Shoes': Stars are a good fit for this sentimental tale

When the next edition of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is published, it will include the term "chick flick." And I'm pretty sure that among its definitions you will find simply, "In Her Shoes."

The cast and crew of the new movie, filmed in part in Delray Beach and Briny Breezes, is understandably disdainful of the label, which can only make drawing ticket buyers outside its target female audience all the more difficult. Still, while anyone could identify with its tale of acceptance, image and self-esteem, what else would you call a story about two rival sisters who come to embrace each other and their differences, with a little help from their grandma at a South Florida active seniors condo community?

20th Century Fox 'In Her Shoes' B The verdict: Sisterly reconciliation and self-esteem mending, with sunny scenes of South Florida senior life. Director: Curtis Hanson Starring: Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, Mark Feuerstein, Brooke Smith Run time: 130 minutes Release date: Oct. 7, 2005 Rating: PG-13 for thematic material, language and some sexual content. See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer    Trailers require Quicktime [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Curtis Hanson (L.A. Confidential, 8 Mile), of all people, directs In Her Shoes, tempering his usual brawny touch, while still drawing impressive performances from his female stars. Shirley MacLaine is uncharacteristically restrained as a no-nonsense widow who has been kept from seeing her now-grown granddaughters by their father (Ken Howard), who remains ready to deal out blame for his wife's death years earlier.

Toni Collette is pitch-perfect as a frumpy, workaholic Philadelphia lawyer named Rose, not far off from the ugly duckling she played in her breakthrough Australian film Muriel's Wedding. And while she is not on a par with her co-stars, Cameron Diaz is well-cast as irresponsible, unemployed Maggie, a self-centered Jewish-American Princess — though none of these characters seems overtly ethnic — who gets by on her looks and sexual wiles.

When we first meet Maggie, she is inebriated and frisky in the men's room with a guy at her high school reunion. Rose has taken the imprudent step of bringing her boss home and sleeping with him, fantasizing a blossoming romance. Long a surrogate mother by default to Maggie, Rose then takes her in and is repaid by Maggie's attempt to steal away the boss. But Rose catches them and tosses out her sister, who heads south, having conveniently just discovered years of unopened birthday cards and cash from Ella, the grandmother neither girl knew was still around.

Susannah Grant's screenplay gets much less soap-opera-ish in sunny Delray, amid spunky but not cartoonish retirees. OK, the men almost get whiplash turning to stare at Diaz in a teeny bikini, but Ella encourages her to get a job in the complex's nursing wing, where she is praised for her mind by a blind ex-professor patient.

Meanwhile, back in Philly, Rose has quit her job to become a dog walker (huh?) and attracts Simon (Mark Feuerstein), a nice Jewish guy from her former law firm. He keeps taking her out to eat, yet she begins losing excess weight and paying more attention to her appearance.

Eventually, Rose travels to Delray and meets Ella, and the three women sort out their past in an attempt to mend family bonds. Just because much of this is predictable does not prevent it from being emotionally satisfying.

So, if you go see In Her Shoes, bring lots of change or at least a cellphone with you. You're going to want to call your siblings as soon as it is over.