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When Fifty Shades of Grey first hit bookstores, it started an unlikely uprising. Women (and some men, too) who hadn’t read a book in years decided to pick up a copy and see what the fuss was about. And in Book Club, four women find their thoughts on relationships changing when they choose to give it a try.
Book Club follows the adventures of four old friends whose latest book club pick makes them all reconsider their relationships. When the boldest of the friends, Vivian (Jane Fonda), suggests 50 Shades of Grey, the other women all laugh it off. But they soon begin to realize that they’re missing something in their lives. Vivian reconnects with an old flame. Sharon (Candice Bergen) decides to start dating again after her ex-husband announces his engagement to a much-younger woman. Carol (Mary Steenburgen) tries to spice things up with her husband. And widowed Diane (Diane Keaton) meets a man who makes her feel young again.
In general, a comedy about a group of young female friends looking for love may hit theaters on a slow weekend, but a movie about a group of 60-something female friends will end up on Lifetime. Big-screen releases aren’t really made for those “women of a certain age.” Women over 50 get to play lovable grannies and batty supporting characters. But, in Book Club, they’re actually given real, honest storylines. The women here aren’t just grandmas. They’re wives; they’re mothers; they’re independent professionals. They have lives and jobs and relationships and feelings. And that’s a refreshing change from the typical role of older women in film.
Admittedly, the women here can sometimes resort to hysterics—which is a common complaint about some of the cast members. And, at times, their thoughts and attitudes don’t always seem genuine. But there’s just something lovable about these four friends who have stood by each other through decades of their lives, who have laughed together and cried together, who have put up with each other’s quirks, and who are still allowed to be thinking, feeling characters (no matter what their children may think). While Diane Keaton can be a little over-the-top, her frenetic energy works well with her cast mates—and she’s perfectly paired with an incredibly charming Andy Garcia. Candice Bergen adds her strength and sarcasm to the mix. Mary Steenburgen is sweet and reserved. And Jane Fonda is amusingly spunky.
Of course, with its mix of older women and nearly non-stop innuendo, it can sometimes feel incredibly uncomfortable (especially if any of the characters happen to remind you of your mother). And it’s hard to imagine four intelligent women reading these books without struggling with the quality of the writing. But the overall effect is awkwardly charming.
Granted, Book Club isn’t really a general-audiences kind of film. But the lovable (and refreshingly human) characters make it an entertaining choice for moms’ night out.
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