Honestly, if you turn on the TV on a rainy Sunday afternoon, there is a very high chance you’ll stumble across the cast of In Her Shoes movie navigating the messy, tear-jerking, and oddly relatable world of the Feller sisters. Released in 2005, this wasn't just another "chick flick" to be tossed onto the pile of mid-2000s fluff. It was a heavyweight drama disguised as a movie about footwear.
Directed by the late Curtis Hanson—the same guy who did L.A. Confidential, which is wild when you think about it—the film anchors itself on three powerhouse performances. You’ve got Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, and the legendary Shirley MacLaine. They play a trio of women who are, frankly, exhausting to each other, yet perfectly cast.
Most people remember the shoes. The stilettos, the sensible flats, the vintage heels in the back of a Florida closet. But the real magic was how these actors inhabited roles that could have easily been caricatures.
The Feller Sisters: A Study in Chaos
Let’s talk about Maggie Feller.
Cameron Diaz played Maggie, the "pretty one" who uses her looks to skate through life because she’s hiding a massive secret: she can’t really read. Diaz often gets pigeonholed as the bubbly blonde, but in this movie, she shows some serious teeth. Maggie is selfish. She’s destructive. She sleeps with her sister’s boyfriend. It’s a brave performance because, for the first hour of the movie, you kinda hate her.
Then there’s Rose.
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Toni Collette is Rose Feller, the "responsible one." She’s a high-powered Philadelphia attorney who lives for her job and her shoe collection because her personal life is a ghost town. Collette famously gained about 25 pounds for the role to embody Rose’s physical discomfort and self-loathing. Watching her slowly shed that weight—and that emotional baggage—is one of the most satisfying arcs in 2000s cinema.
The chemistry between these two is visceral. You can feel the decades of shared trauma and "big sister" resentment in every argument. It’s not "movie fighting"; it’s the kind of screaming match that only people who share DNA can pull off.
The Supporting Cast of In Her Shoes Movie
While the sisters drive the plot, the world around them is populated by actors who bring a lot of heart to the table.
Shirley MacLaine as Ella Hirsch
The movie shifts gears entirely when we meet Ella. She’s the grandmother the sisters never knew they had, living in a retirement community in Florida. Shirley MacLaine is a force of nature here. She isn’t playing a sweet, cookie-baking grandma. Ella is tough, observant, and carrying her own guilt about the past. She’s the one who finally forces Maggie to grow up, not by coddling her, but by putting her to work in the "Habitat" for the elderly.
Mark Feuerstein as Simon Stein
Every drama needs a little light, and Mark Feuerstein provides it as Simon. He’s the former colleague of Rose who sees her for who she actually is, not just the "drab" lawyer she thinks she is. Their romance is sweet and feels earned, mostly because Feuerstein plays Simon with a genuine, persistent kindness that wears down Rose's defenses.
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The Resident Scene-Stealers
You can't talk about the cast without mentioning the residents of the Florida retirement home. Norman Lloyd plays Professor Sofield, the blind man who helps Maggie find her confidence by having her read poetry to him. It’s arguably the most moving part of the film. Then you have Francine Beers as Mrs. Lefkowitz, who basically steals every scene she's in with just a look or a sharp remark.
Other notable appearances include:
- Ken Howard as Michael Feller (the dad caught in the middle).
- Candice Azzara as Sydelle Feller (the "evil" stepmother type).
- Brooke Smith as Amy, Rose's best friend.
- Richard Burgi as Jim Danvers (the guy who definitely shouldn't have slept with Maggie).
Why the Casting Worked So Well
Director Curtis Hanson had a knack for finding the "truth" in his actors. He didn't want the movie to feel glossy. He shot on location in Philadelphia and Deerfield Beach, Florida, and he encouraged the cast to lean into the ugliness of their characters.
The film deals with heavy themes: mental illness, dyslexia, infidelity, and the death of a parent. If the casting hadn't been this precise, it would have collapsed under the weight of its own sentimentality. Instead, because of the cast of In Her Shoes movie, it feels like a documentary of a real family's breaking point.
Interestingly, while the movie is titled In Her Shoes, the shoes are just a metaphor for empathy. It’s about literally walking in someone else's life to understand why they’re so broken.
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Where Are They Now?
It’s been over twenty years since the film hit theaters.
Toni Collette has gone on to become a literal icon of independent and horror cinema (if you haven’t seen Hereditary, prepare yourself). Cameron Diaz famously stepped away from acting for a long time to focus on her family and her wine brand, Avaline, but she’s recently made a comeback. Shirley MacLaine, now in her 90s, remains a legend of the industry, still occasionally appearing in projects that catch her interest.
Mark Feuerstein became a staple of "Blue Skies" television with Royal Pains, and Anson Mount (who played Todd in the film) eventually found massive success as Captain Christopher Pike in the Star Trek universe.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re revisiting the film or discovering it for the first time, keep these things in mind:
- Look for the Poetry: The poem Maggie reads to her sister at the end is "One Art" by Elizabeth Bishop. It’s the emotional heartbeat of the movie.
- Notice the Wardrobe: The costume design by Sophie de Rakoff is brilliant. Watch how Rose’s clothes get brighter and Maggie’s get more "real" as the movie progresses.
- Read the Book: The movie is based on the novel by Jennifer Weiner. It’s a great read and gives even more depth to Rose’s internal monologue.
- Check the Cameos: Author Jennifer Weiner actually has a tiny cameo in the film as a "smiling woman" in an Italian market.
Basically, this movie holds up. It’s a rare mid-2000s drama that treats women’s lives with complexity and respect. If you need a good cry or just want to see some incredible acting, it's time to put these shoes back on.
To truly appreciate the nuance of the performances, try watching the film with the director's commentary if you can find an old DVD copy. It offers incredible insight into how Hanson coached Diaz through the more vulnerable literacy scenes. You can also explore the locations in Delray Beach, Florida, where many of the retirement community scenes were filmed, as several of those spots remain unchanged today.