Watch CBS News

Madonna Returns To Big Screen

Madonna is back with a new offering called The Next Best Thing, one of several movies opening this weekend.

In it, reports CBS Early Show Contributor Laurie Hibberd, she portrays a woman who has a baby with her gay friend, played by Rupert Everett.


This marks her 13th film in an acting career that's seen its share of ups and downs.

Madonna's first role was inspired by her pop-star persona. Her portrayal of a quirky free spirit made the low-budget Desperately Seeking Susan a hit.

But she followed that success with a few box-office embarrassments, including Who's That Girl and Shanghai Surprise. In the 1990s, she came alive with supporting roles in Dick Tracy and A League of Their Own.

She hit another low point in Body of Evidence, but three years later was on the upswing once again with her award-winning performance as Evita Perone.

Madonna got star billing and is receiving raves from her co-stars, but Hollywood.com's Martin Grove, thinks Everett is the draw. He appears to be emphasized more than Madonna in the TV spots.

Rated PG-13, the comedy drama directed by John Schlesinger, opens at 2,007 theaters Friday.

Also opening Friday is Columbia's What Planet Are You From?, an R-rated comedy directed by Mike Nichols. It stars Garry Shandling, Annette Bening, Greg Kinnear, Ben Kingsley, Linda Fiorentino and John Goodman. Its story revolves around an alien sent to Earth to mate with a human female.

Another newcomer to theaters is Destination Films' PG-13 rated comedy Drowning Mona, opening at 1,981 theatres. Directed by Nick Gomez, it stars Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, Neve Campbell and Jamie Lee Curtis.

Warner Bros.' PG- rated My Dog Skip will open to wider release and is expected to give Snow Day some competition.

©2000, CBS Worldwide Inc., All Rights Reserved

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue