A Little Something for Your Birthday

[Stone's] performance anchors the light-as-air "All I Wish." It's the perfect role for her to sink her teeth into, sexy and fun, but she brings a sense of real intelligence and soulfulness to the character.

Stone is bubbly and appealing in the role, but she's saddled with dialogue as clunky as a flat tire.

It's left to Stone to prop up the whole scented-tissue affair, and that she cheerfully does, with a calm, centered force of personality that lends credibility even to the most raggedly developed aspects of her character.

Decent romantic comedies, especially ones featuring middle-aged protagonists, are so few and far between that it makes the mediocrity of writer-director Susan Walter's effort all the more regrettable.

Even when the script doesn't trip over gumball wedding rings and tone-deaf karaoke scenes, the direction drains the story of specificity and feeling.

By the time you watch them have their big first kiss, then break up, then get back together again, it plays less like a real movie and instead one of those memory slideshows your iPhone photo album generates for you.

Here's a portrait of both older women and men living life to the fullest, and not settling for second best just because society sets deadlines. It also gives hope to those who are divorced or widowed.

In Susan Walters' sudsy screenplay, Sharon Stone is subjected to stock romantic situations time and time again, dragged along by Walters' insipid and uninspired direction.

"All I Wish" is a dream role for Stone, if only the character was given a better movie to exist in.

The script, from first time director Susan Walter, is strong and her direction keeps the film moving with very little slow spots. A fine freshman debut.