IN HER SHOES — *** — Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine; rated PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, brief drugs); see Page W2 for theaters.

"In Her Shoes" demonstrates that it's possible to make something fresh and enjoyable out of the most formulaic material.

The sibling and parental estrangement themes in this comedy-drama, an adaptation of Jennifer Weiner's best-selling novel, aren't really new. In fact, they could have come directly from one of those soggy, made-for-Lifetime cable-channel movies.

Instead, "In Her Shoes" has a few unexpected turns, and zags in a few places where you're expecting it to zig. There's also no denying the appeal of the film's first-rate cast — including Cameron Diaz, who gives her most assured performance in quite some time.

Diaz stars as Maggie Feller, a self-involved party girl whose constant lying and petty thievery has her at odds with her considerably more mature and all-too-patient older sister, Rose (Toni Collette). But the last straw for Rose comes when she catches Maggie in bed with her boyfriend and co-worker (Richard Burgi), so she promptly boots her carefree younger sibling out of her apartment.

That leaves Maggie with nowhere to stay. And already having worn out her welcome with her father and stepmother (Ken Howard and Candice Azzara), Maggie heads to Florida to find the one person whose patience she hasn't exhausted — her long-lost grandmother, Ella (Shirley MacLaine).

Meanwhile, Rose has had a personal and professional meltdown, and the ensuing inner turmoil may have dire consequences as it threatens the promising relationship she's begun with a former co-worker (Mark Feuerstein).

Unlike this summer's big-screen version of "Bewitched," in which she played a caricature rather than a character, MacLaine has an actual part to play here. As the quietly observant Ella, she nearly steals the movie, as do supporting cast members Jerry Adler and Francine Beers (who play residents of Ella's retirement community).

MacLaine's work here will surely garner some Oscar talk, but hopefully voters won't forget Collette, who more than holds her own with MacLaine and Diaz.

And it's to the credit of director Curtis Hanson and screenwriter Susannah Grant that the three actresses all get the screen time they deserve. The filmmakers also deftly balance the comedic and dramatic elements, ensuring that the film doesn't get too sappy or heavy.

"In Her Shoes" is rated PG-13 for some crude sexual references and humor, occasional use of profanity, simulated sex and other sexual contact, some brief sexual violence (an assault), and some brief drug content (references and prescription drug use). Running time: 131 minutes.

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