Sharon: We are four successful women. I don’t need a man. What is the point?
Diane: Who still has any interest?
Vivian: Ladies, I am not going to let us become those people who stop living before they stop living. I would like to introduce you to Christian Grey.
Carol: It says, “For mature audiences.”
Diane: It certainly sounds like us.
It’s Fifty Shades for seniors as four women well past their prime are introduced to a different type of book in their Book Club. It is through the book that one realizes age is just a number as each woman is awoken with a sexual urge that is both surprising and intriguing.
Written and Directed by Bill Holderman with collaboration from Erin Simms who also worked with him in A Walk In The Woods, the two capture the meaning of what women over fifty are really thinking as they go through life. Like A Walk In The Woods, Holderman takes the notion of the older generation who attempts to do the unspeakable and adds new meaning to what it means to be a senior. In this story, it centers around four woman, all of which are dealing with some sort of life changing event that has brought them to the point of ‘why living’.
Overall, the film is wonderfully cast as each of the four actresses capture the role so fluidly as if they are just living their lives. Diane (Diane Keaton) is a recently widowed woman who is dealing with how to live again especially when her daughters long to take care of her by relocating them closer to them. Meanwhile her 3 friends keep her thinking that there is more when Carol (Mary Steenburgen) introduces the women to their next “book club” reading.
Then there is Sharon (Candice Bergen), successful court judge who has long given up on men and is a comfortable “cat lady” and Vivian (Jane Fonda) is still living life as if she is twenty something, using men for only pleasure without any emotion. Ultimately Holderman knew what he was doing when casting four powerful women in these roles. Their dynamic chemistry and witty banter made the movie fun and lively as it ultimately sends a message to all to “Not stop living”.
Shot on location in California, there were some recognizable locations including the Santa Monica Pier with the ferris whale when Diane and George (Richard Dreyfuss) go on their first date as well as the airport scenes which was more than likely Burbank or Van Nuys Airport for its less commercial look. Ultimately, the setting didn’t really matter too much though other than just a nice touch to try to guess where they are. Aside from that, it didn’t really add or distract from the film as it was dealing with a topic that could have ultimately taken place anywhere. The only thing about being in California, especially for Sharon who is a successful court judge, that makes since for her location as it might be a little less believable in another state.
The bottom line, Book Club is a entertaining movie that brings women of all ages together to see what life over 50 is all about. It captures the same witty banter of the younger movies that are out including Life of the Party and I feel Pretty, but it does it in a cleaner, more sophisticated way so it doesn’t just pay off as a piece of mindless trash. Rather has a little more meaning to what it’s like to be “more mature”.
Book Club came out May 18th and is currently playing in a theater near you.
