Movies: Still Groovin'; 20 Years Since the Premiere of How Stella Got Her Groove Back

Twenty years ago, Terry McMillan's best-selling tropical romance novel, How Stella Got Her Groove Back (based on her own experience) was made into a film that turnedo ut equally as susccessful - primarily with women audiences of course.

Lead star Angela Bassett plays a 40-year-old divorcee named Stella, a San Francisco stockbroker, who heads to Jamaica for vacation with her best friend Delilah (Whoopi Goldberg). The unexpected happens when Stella meets eye candy Winston Shakespeare (played by Taye Diggs in his film debut), a Jamaican local less than half her age.

The film, directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, explores the development of their relationship notwithstanding geographic, cultural and age differences.

Film producer Natalie Thompson was in charge of the Jamaican production, which was primarily shot at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Hanover.

“I hadn't read the novel before but I did read it before Terry came to Jamaica to shoot,” Thompson told the Jamaica Observer. “I remember we shot in 1997; as a matter of fact we wrapped on December 17, a day before general elections, so it was pretty tense at that time. We didn't make it known that we were shooting; it wasn't public. We also shot some scenes at Laughing Waters and a little in Hanover,” she continued.

Thompson, who has worked on several films including Knight and Day, Cool Runnings, Third World Cop and Instinct, said How Stella Got Her Groove Backplaced much interest on Jamaica. Round Hill's managing director Josef Forstmayr agrees.According to Forstmayr, the cast also grew fond of the getaway resort.

“Taye Diggs ended up marrying Idina Menzel four years later at Round Hill; he had fallen in love with the place,” he said. “Angela and Whoopi also visited after that, so they all loved it.”

The novel was a best-seller, with more than two million copies sold before the film's release. The Box Office MOJO notes the movie grossed US$37,672,941 worldwide. How Stella Got Her Groove Back also featured appearances by Lisa Hanna featured Denise Hunt. The soundtrack had Jamaican acts like Diana King, Beenie Man, Shaggy and Maxi Priest.