Director
Bill Holderman
(Feature film debut)

Stars
Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen, Andy Garcia, Craig T. Nelson and Don Johnson

As you may fathom from the title, this film revolves around the monthly book club meetings that are attended to by four women who are lifelong friends. Recently widowed Diane (Diane Keaton), who is coping in life without her husband of 40 years much better than her two helicopter daughters perceive. Vivian (Jane Fonda), a successful hotel owner who can easily sleep with a man, but can’t literally fall asleep beside one. Federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen), who has been single ever since her divorce several years ago and decides to join the world of online dating. Carol (Mary Steenburgen), a chef whose marriage has lost its spark and lacks intimacy. Each of these women find the courage and determination to confront some awkward and uncomfortable aspects of their own love lives after Vivian introduces them to E. L. James’ infamous book, Fifty Shades of Grey.

If there is one noticeable improvement that Hollywood has made evident in recent years, it is the consistency in diversity and inclusion from the writers and in its casting. Particularly for lead roles, as illustrated by the central characters of this film. This is an age-bracket that Hollywood has often shunned from the limelight over the years. So while it is great to see this first step has been taken, the next challenge is for writers to create characters that aren’t quite as clichéd and predictable as the leading ladies are in this mediocre romantic comedy.

Earlier stages of this film do arouse plenty of laughter courtesy of its instantly endearing premise surrounding these four focal female characters and the script’s witty dialogue. Ultimately, a bright and funny opening act, which creatively introduces each core component of this picture, gradually wears off as the shaping of its main characters, and their conclusions prove themselves to be formulaic and quite out of touch with these modern times. That not-so-secret ingredient to spice things up in the reading room (and beyond!) throughout BOOK CLUB only temporarily sizzles before it settles into a simmer. It’s a real pity that the scenarios and jokes derived from the inclusion of E. L. James’ novel (who features in a cameo with her husband) aren’t upheld throughout BOOK CLUB, for it’s what sets it apart from other rom-coms. Instead, we get much of the same uninspiring stuff from Diane Keaton we’ve seen for two decades now, a contrived and easy-way-out conclusion for the conundrum Carol is faced with and far too much of the grating company of Diane’s daughters. We get it, they’re feeling (over) protective of their (perhaps) vulnerable and newly-widowed mother, but sheesh, give the poor woman (and us viewers) a break already!

Instead, we wind-up with a fairly routine romantic comedy that doesn’t take full advantage of the raunchy resource in its hands.

2 ½ stars 

Viewer Discretion
M (Coarse language and sexual references)

Trailer
BOOK CLUB

Moviedoc thanks Transmission Films for the invite to the screening of this film

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc
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