Lindsey Lowson / 03 November 2024 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, Movie

THE WOMEN

If you like It’s Complicated, Something Gotta Give, type flicks

It would be easy to mistake this, for women chick flick, as one from the Nancy Meyers stable, it’s actually a 1939 remake written and directed by Diane English.

I’ve seen it a few times, definitely a movie you can watch more than once, fast paced and funny.

The ensemble casting is spectacular, Meg Ryan as Mary Haines leads the group of five very different friends as they navigate coming to terms with and dealing with her cheating husband, Stephen who never actually appears in the film. His presence cleverly woven into the story by phone calls, notes and flowers.

Eva Mendez plays the husband stealer, a “spritzer girl” on the perfume counter at Saks, laugh out loud funny every time uptight publishing editor and best friend to Mary, Silver played by Annette Benning disparagingly says it.

The casting really makes this movie, Evie, played by the hilarious Debra Messing is the Earth mother always bare foot and pregnant, Jada Pinkett plays successful author, lesbian and loner.

The ensemble doesn’t stop with the leading ladies, the gossiping nail lady in Saks fifth Avenue is a critical character in the story as without the skill and wit of the brilliant Debi Mazar this clever script couldn’t come together, delectable performances from Candice Bergman as Mary’s mum and Bette Midler as talent agent in recovery are truly memorable.

This movie does have the sickly Hollywood ending, the only thing that really spoils it for me but at least the writer does leave the blood guts and brutal truth of human relationships on the table.

If you want to laugh and maybe a little at yourself this is a really really good watch. Perfect alternative when someone says let’s watch The Holiday or Bridesmaids and you say haven’t we just watched that.