Based on Terry McMillan's best-selling novel How Stella Got Her Groove Back, stars Angela Bassett as a 40-year-old, Manhattan stock trader and single mother whose static life gets a jolt during a vacation with her pal (Whoopi Goldberg) in Jamaica. Sparks fly when Bassett meets a 20-year-old stud (Taye Diggs) who has an ambivalent career path but a great body and lots of sexual energy to burn. After some prodding by Goldberg's warm-funny secondary character, Bassett gets it on with the fellow--and proceeds to worry about what she's doing with a man half her age. The film is most enjoyable in its sunny, exotic early scenes and becomes more formulaic once the unlikely couple transports their will-we-stay-together-or-won't-we tensions back to the Big Apple. But director Kevin Rodney Sullivan goes out of his way to make a movie unabashedly thick with fantasy and wish-fulfilment for female audiences (it's Diggs who reveals a lot more flesh than the regal Bassett). This is a Saturday-night movie all around. --Tom Keogh

I have read the book, which contains much more than the film, but nevertheless the film is great!!
Beautiful Angela Basset, handsome Taye diggs make a good looking couple. The scence with Whoppy on the hill is my favourite, saying "God is here".
Also great music which fits to each scene!
And the magnificant Half Moon Hotel, where I have been myself is the perfect location for this romantic love story.
All together, I never watched a movie as often as this,and will watch it over and over again,cause everytime I see it, it makes me feel so high...and as the soundtrack sings free...
Feel free, and be free.
True and heartshaking like life itself...

I read the book and absolutely loved it. I expected the film to be a good watch as Angela Bassett is it and she's quite a credible actress however Taye Diggs as 'jamaican' Winston was a huge disappointment. He looks good but his jamaican accent is worse than Doug E Doug et al in Cool Runnings. The accent is so bad that it ruined the film for me because I could not see past it. I can not watch the film again as the thought of hearing that accent again makes me cringe with discomfort.

Angela Basset has plays an excellent role showing a clear understanding of a single woman in her thirtyes wanting to rekindle her sensual side after disapointments in love. However it is difficult to really imagine the two chracters are deeply in love. Whoopi adds that quite essential comedy spark to this film. A bonus is that the story is a realistic one and quite uplifting in parts.

this film is brilliant. its romantic and with whoopi goldberg as stella's bestfriend, theres an aspect of comedy. it explores the taboo subject of older women with younger men sensitively, allowing it to be a fun film. angela bassett also looks great in this film.

This film addresses the issues of a mature women dating a younger man and the pitfalls. It is handled very well and is a very enjoyable and entertaining film to watch. Angela looks stunning and so does her co-star. He's a real dreamboat and has a fantastic body. Enjoy this film - I did.