The Next Best Thing
Abbie, tired of failed relationships, has a one-night-stand with her gay friend; they agree to raise the resulting baby together.
- Director:John Schlesinger
- Genre:Comedy | Romance
Cast
Madonna : Abbie Reynolds
Rupert Everett: Robert Whittaker
Benjamin Bratt : Ben Cooper
Illeana Douglas : Elizabeth Ryder
Michael Vartan : Kevin Lasater
Two best friends — one a heterosexual woman, Abbie (Madonna), the other a gay man, Robert (Everett) — who have a child together after a drunken one-night stand. Six years later, Abbie falls in love with another man, Ben (Bratt), and wants to move away with him and Robert’s little boy, Sam. A nasty, full-of-surprises custody battle ensues between Abbie and Robert. Its ultimatly revealed that Robert is not in fact Sam’s biological father, it was Abbie’s scumbag ex-boyfriend Kevin and she’s known for three years but never told either man. Robert wants joint custody anyway, and while the judge is sympathetic with him and personally agrees, she has to follow the law and grants sole custody to Abbie. However, Kevin shows up and demands his rights as a parent to get to know his child before a decision is made and the judge puts it off for four months. Abbie is furious with Robert as she wanted nothing more to do with Kevin and Robert brought him back into her life in a desperate attempt to keep Sam. Some months later, Robert watches Sam at his school from across the street and Ben spots him. The two have a friendly conversation, but Abbie is still too furious with Robert to even speak to him. Ben reveals they only saw Kevin once in several months and he apparently is leaving them alone and Ben decided not to take the job that would have caused them to move. Ben says its too soon for Robert to see Sam and he agrees and leaves, but not before waving to Sam who sees him. Seeing how upset Sam is, and missing Robert a lot herself, Abbie has Ben drive over to Robert and the two reconcile and Abbie has Sam go to dinner with his father. Ultimatly its revealed that Abbie had Kevin sign consent forms that allowed Robert to adopt Sam and legally become his father. Abbie and Ben married and happily share custody with Robert who remains their best friend and Sam loves his family. Read more
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