HOW STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK (Cert 15) Running Time 124 mins. Starring Angela Bassett, Whoopi Goldberg and Taye Diggs. Directed by Ron Bass and Produced by Ron Bass.

THERE are two aspects to this movie. Firstly, our heroine Stella (Angela Bassett) decides to escape her hum-drum life 'up north' by taking a holiday to exotic Montego Bay. Secondly, the young, strapping hero happens to be called Winston Shakespeare (yawn, yawn).

Winston is not only a beautiful black Adonis, he's also a medical student and the son of one of Jamaica's most famous and celebrated surgeon, while our Stella is a successful American money trader working in San Francisco.

Unfortunately, problems loom large on the horizon...

Winston is 20 years old whereas Stella is pushing 40, divorced with a bratty, teenage son.

Due to the film's production being handled by Ron Bass, (who coincidently wrote Rain Man and Stepmom), you can bet your life savings that one particular character meets a sticky end.

Well, it so happens that Stella's best friend (Whoopi Goldberg) is on her death-bed.

So, what better place could two would-be lovers meet than at a funeral?

This film is rubbish, slow-starting, slow-moving, and, very slow to end. Do yourself a favour - have a night down the pub instead!

See our film guide for more!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.