I just saw Book Club. This charming comedy stars Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen as four long time friends who decide to spice up their love lives after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. The film is pleasant and enjoyable, with a witty screenplay. All four women do a good job in their roles and the characters are believable and well developed. It is nice to see a romantic comedy with older people in it. I would recommend Book Club to anyone who appreciates a nice intelligent comedy. I rate Book Club a satisfying 7/10.
All of the ladies in the cast have done work I really admired over the years. I would ordinarily jump at the chance to see them perform together. But it was the film's central plot that had me disturbed: I am simply appalled by the schlock bondage fantasies of the 50 Shades of Gray series, a "Story of O" for dingalings. How much discussion of 50 Shades actually goes in in this film?
Thanks for that. That almost makes me want to see it just to watch those talented ladies perform. But the publicity has played up the connection to 50 Shades which made me very hesitant to see it.
You should see it. I was turned off by the 50 Shades thing too, but the great cast here make it funny, not icky. I was surprised by how much I liked it.
The 50 Shades references were really a small part of the movie, though I must admit that the premise of a dedicated small and personal Book Club that had lasted for decades would choose this series of books as their reading topic. I was prepared for more 50 Shades references but they really were few and far between. It was just the catalyst for taking the story forward. I thought Diane Keaton's story resonated the most.
They should definitely downplay the 50 Shades in the promos. Shock over that book was old news by 2012. I like these actresses but am so tired of the four single women trope. It has been done, redone and done again: SATC, Girls, Traveling Pants, Golden Girls, Bridesmaids, Moms Night Out, Girls Trip... Chardonney, shoes, group hugs, vibrators, jerk boyfriends getting sassed, shopping therapy, yoga. Yawn-o-rama! Time’s up Hollywood. Put on your thinking caps and deliver something original next time.
Yeah, it’s an old trope but women like me enjoy seeing our favorite actresses. People who don’t like it shouldn’t go. Like I don’t go to the shoot-em, blow-em up movies, done and redone with the same old men actors. To each their own.
The four women "trope." Hmm. Almost like it WORKS or something. Maybe they should stop that when it STOPS working. Because as far as I can tell, all those titles you listed? All monumental successes, except maybe for Bridesmaids or Bad Moms. Besides that, this is more than just the "four women" formula. These are four great screen actresses backed by four better than decent actors of their same time, without super powers, or flashy super hero costumes, or a shit fuck TON of CGI. These people were making great movies long before all of these dime-a-dozen Marvel piles being made today. Essentially, they were making movies great when it took a great actor to MAKE a great movie. Now? The grandeur and CGI are all necessary, because the actors in them wouldn't be able to cut it otherwise. And that's a crying shame.