Movie Review: Book Club

These four women wrote the book on being fabulous, but is their movie just as fab?

I honestly had no interest nor any idea about The Book Club when I first got the premiere invite from my friend Albert. But because my partner Lou was raving after she saw the trailer and because she idolized all the lead stars, I had no choice but to accompany her last Monday night.

Best decision I’ve made that day. As they say happy love, happy life.

If these women were just a few decades younger they’d be the ultimate #SquadGoals.  Just seeing these four fantastic actresses on screen is a delight, and though it may not win any acting awards for any of them it’s still a noteworthy rom-com if you want to take your titas, moms, and other women of a certain age on a movie date.

The movie is about a four friends who are members of the titular book club of “Book Club” They’ve been meeting once a month to drink wine and talk about a book and this has been going on for decades as they started in the ’70s with Erica Jong’s “Fear of Flying” and have just turned their attention to E.L. James’s “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

I don’t have an explanation why they chose that book either.

It’s also probably not the best age to get acquainted with Anastasia, Christian and all their kinky ways either, because while reading the book, their lives will take some pretty unexpected turns.

Not THAT unexpected turn.

Lets continue.

The four women represent a carefully plotted range of professional and marital situations– Sharon (Candice Bergen) is federal judge who is still affected by her divorce, Diane ( Diane Keaton) is a recently widowed mother of two grown daughters (Alicia Silverstone and Katie Aselton). Vivian ( Jane Fonda) is a hotel owner who loves her independence, and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) who is the only one married albeit not too happily after her husband’s recent retirement.

And while they make a few mild jokes about spanking and the Red Room over their glasses of chardonnay, “Fifty Shades” does inspire them to take control of their lives and move towards a bit of adventure.

Vivian runs into Arthur, a man she turned down marriage to 40 years prior and they begin flirting again. Diane is reluctant to move in with to her daughters “basement” who perceive her to be in danger because she’s living alone especially now that she’s met a Mitchell, a pilot who’s made her feel alive again. Sharon, who has been single for over 15 years after her divorce tries online dating apps, while Carol tries new ways to spark a marriage (putting on her old waitress outfit) to tease and get her old Bruce back.

The movie isn’t perfect but it will definitely keep you entertained and the script does give each actress their own “moments” to shine.

My favorite line in the film comes from Candice who after being invited to a double engagement party said:

Love is just a word—until you find someone who gives it meaning.

Who said hugots are just for millennials?

Hilarious and heartfelt, prepare to have your tummy exercised as you laugh out loud with your amigas in this reunion worthy movie! The Book Club is now showing in  Philippine cinemas.

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