1 hour 44 minutes
Taking time out on a cloudy Sunday afternoon, I went to
the theater to watch the “Book Club”. I’ve been looking forward to seeing this film
ever since I knew it was going to be in theaters. I was a little apprehensive
that it would fail all my expectations and the big-screen celebrities that came
together would drop the ball on great acting and the whole thing would fall
flat. That was not the case at all. I was pleasantly and delightfully surprised
at the real and comedic approach this film took to highlight the realities that
come with certain expectations while aging in today’s society.
“Book Club” stars Jane Fonda as Vivian who has never been
married and is a successful luxury hotel owner. It also stars Diane Keaton as
Diane. The word is – this role was written specifically for Keaton, so they
kept her name. She is a recent widow after 40 years of marriage and her two
grown, married and over-protective daughters (Alicia
Silverstone and Katie Aselton)
treat her as if she is already on “her way out.”
Candice Bergen stars as Sharon, a federal judge who has
focused on her career and has not been in a relationship since her divorce 18
years ago (unless you count her relationship with her cat). Mary Steenburgen
stars as Carol and she is the only one of the four friends who has remained
married. She is a successful chef whose relationship with her husband (Craig T.
Nelson) needs a little spark and pick-me up.
In the film, the four long-time friends and book club
members do not discuss the literary likes of “Moby Dick” by Hermann Melville
(although Diane will lead one to think so), but instead they ooh and ah over
the “Fifty Shades of Grey” series by E. L. James.
Believe it or not, this book series is the catalyst of self-reflection and
living their lives fully.
In
each storyline, the women experience varying degrees of fun with matters of
sisterhood, joy, hope – and yes, sex (subtle and often only referenced in the
film). If diversity in race, social and financial status is what
you are looking for in a movie, “Book Club” will fail to offer you that. It
only contains one demographic of successful, white, heterosexual and wealthy
women.
Due to the occasional strong language, a few references
to sex (with one questionable - although funny - scene) and a lot of wine
consumption, this film may not be a family go-to. However, I suspect it will be
enjoyed by both men and women 40 and over since this is the age that one begins
to think about their own mortality. Women 20 to 39 years old may enjoy it as well,
since the film carries strong messages about female friendships and healthy
relationships.
Without a doubt, this film is a must see for those who
need a laugh; and it helps us all to not take the aging process too seriously.
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