Who payed the critics

Surprisingly incoherent and boring

Good concept, poorly executed.

As Good As It Gets

Honestly I have never seen a lesbian movie having three era stories altogether (I'll be seeing the first movie after reviewing this sequel)!The first story was about two ladies Edith (who I didn't realise was the late Natasha Richardson's mother) and Abby that were from the 1950's and hid their relationship to society. It really explains how during that time was absolutely horrible the way anything like that was all hush hush. It was heartbreaking to think that poor Edith couldn't explain to the doctors and Abbys family members that she was her lover all because of having no rights to openly come out as a guy person.Then we move on to the second story to the 70's, we see a group of lesbian girls fighting for their gay rights. In my opinion this was my favourite story ever because it really gave you that good buzz vibe from that disco era. Like I swear Michelle Williams' character really stood out as a natural long brown haired 70's girl and Amy as a real cool cat of a butch woman that looked like a greaser. Amy showed so much passionate for Linda and didn't care what people say about her, as long as she had Linda, then everybody's happy!So finally the third story, I absolutely loved this as of course the legends Sharon Stone and Ellen DeGeneres were playing as a couple who are dying to have kiddies. Sharon Stones character Sharon was unbelievably energetic and with Ellen DeGeneres character, she was just wonderful plus supportive in carrying the sperm process. I have to say this movie was so great in putting the effort of having a good soundtrack of songs and all actresses were really committed with us audience all the way! Bravo ladies! :D

Well, the first two segments are worth viewing, but the third with Stone and Ellen is pretty lame. Actually, the contrast with Redgrave's story is quite jarring, perhaps emphasizing how self-absorbed we have all become. I would rather have seen Ellen play it straight (pardon), and cut the whole comedy routine. The sex scene is gratuitous - too much information.And, by coincidence, three sets of lesbians happened to live in the same house over the years? I missed the first "If These..." movie - did each episode revolve around abortion??Back to Redgrave......I would love to have seen an entire film surrounding that character.

Three slightly self-indulgent stories with a lesbian theme. The problem here is that lesbianism is not just a theme of these stories, it is the theme, and a single (and predictable) prevailing attitude provides each drama with both premise and conclusions. It is not that this attitude is wrong, rather that it robs the dramas of the qualities of breath and moral ambiguity that mark all truly powerful stories. Vanessa Redgrave is excellent in the first part, which thereby moves you although you never feel there is never any scope for anything other than the eventual ending; the other two tales pass without interest. Truly good film makes the viewer feel a little more uneasy and a little less certain about themselves; but the overall tone here is one of celebration, and its a weaker work for that.

Three tales of lesbian couples having different struggles across three different time periods. In the sixties a lifelong lesbian couple who have never come out find the difficulties that occur due to them having no legal connection to one another. In the seventies a university student who is a feminist faces her friends' disapproval when she falls for a stereotypical `butch john' lesbian. In the nineties an openly gay couple decide to try for child and start looking for sperm.I first heard of this film because I always have time for anything that Nia Long does. This caught my eye on her CV and when it came on TV I watched it. I wasn't sure what to expect but most of it works quite well. As the stories are pretty distinct (the only connection being the house) so I'll deal with them so. The first is easily the best and is the most emotionally involving. It is a little too happy and unreal at the start but the tragic situation that Edith finds herself in because of her love is very moving. The second story is a little less real to me as it deals with a problem within the lesbian community (of which I have no experience to speak of). It is less moving and also a little more explicit and may satisfy those who are only interested in lesbians in terms of male arousal! I don't think it is very sexual or overly done but I didn't think there was too much need for it - regardless of the participants sexuality I didn't think it really added to the subject. However the story again is pretty good and is interesting as it is not an issue I was aware of.The final story is the most optimistic but also the weakest. The `issue' is a lot less serious and the film treats it as such with the whole segment being very light-hearted and bright. It doesn't really add anything to the film and doesn't fit with the first two segments. The cast are pretty much all good. In the first part Redgrave is excellent and her plight is made very real by the strength of her performance. In the second film Sevingy steals the show easily with a good performance. In the third DeGeneres happily underplays and isn't `zany' or `wacky', she is funny but not in an annoying way. Stone is weak because her character simply doesn't fit with her body - far too youthful and carefree to suit Stone. The support add to the feel that this is full of `stars' with Perkins, Giamatti, Long, King and others all doing OK in support.Overall this film starts strong but gets progressively weaker as it goes, with the final section being quite frivolous compared to the emotion of the opening. It is an interesting film but it doesn't quite work as well as it should have done.