The Evening Star

REVIEW
MacLaine repeats her Terms of Endearment Oscar-winning role as Aurora Greenway in this strained if occasionally compelling sequel. The Evening Star takes place 13 years after the death of Aurora's daughter Emma. Aurora has raised her three grandchildren, but they are mostly problem kids who have little time or affection for their meddling grandmother. As the jagged, episodic story introduces its characters, Aurora tentatively initiates an affair with a younger man (Paxton) while her teenaged granddaughter (Lewis) is ready to run away to Los Angeles. The Evening Star doesn't have the original's rich material exploring the complex relationship between mother and daughter. And it's manipulative and sentimental. But it has a surprising emotional impact, probably due to the very able cast. MacLaine has lost none of Aurora's sting, and Ross is delectable as the family housekeeper. Oh, Jack's back, too.