I just rented this because I was interested in seeing more movies with Julia Roberts, one of my favorite Hollywood actresses.  i think she is beautiful and really gets into her parts.  "Step Mom" is one of her best films.  I'm not really a big Susan Sarandon fan but she was good in this movie.  It revolves around the lives of the step mother conflcting with the mother from the previous marriage.  The kids in this movie help liven up the movie and unfortunately haven't been in any big name future films since.  Jackie ends up getting cancer later in the movie which will bring tears to your eyes in some scenes.  Isabel (Julia Roberts) is pretty much an artsy photographer who is considered "hip" by Jackie, the mother of the children.  They have to put up with Isabel's poor motherhood instincts like accidentally "losing" one of the children in one scene.  Later in the movie you grow to like both mothers.  Even the father Luke gets likeable later in the movie as his character becomes more real.  The cast of the movie is pretty talented.  This is one of the better films Julia Roberts has been in.  While "The Pelican Brief" is my all-time favorite of hers, "Stepmom" is still worth watching even though it's an older movie.  Warning: if you're emotional be sure to bring some tissues with you while watching it.  Definately worth the price.