Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse
Starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bruce Greenwood, and Timothy V. Murphy

A wedding movie made by Australian filmmaker Jocelyn Moorhouse (The Dressmaker, Proof, How To Make An American Quilt and producer of Muriel’s Wedding) starring the fabulous pairing of Susan Sarandon and Bette Midler. What is not already to love about The Fabulous Four!?

Many years ago, four women formed a sincere and strong friendship that promised to be lifelong. Especially for the close-knit Marilyn (Bette Midler) and Louise (Susan Sarandon). But as it so often does, life had other plans. Louise became a successful surgeon and devoted cat lady. Marilyn got married and is now a TikTok addict. Alice (Megan Mullally) remains single and ready to mingle, and Kitty (Sheryl Lee Ralph) is a parent, grandparent, and a thriving cannabis farmer! There is, however, another reason why it has been several years since they all last saw each other. Louise and Marilyn had a falling out over something that happened many years ago that still puts a wedge in their friendship. In an attempt to build a bridge over troubled waters and hit the restart button, Marilyn invites her three former BFFs to her wedding in Key West, Florida.

It may be harmless fun and hardly essential viewing, but chances are you will want to enjoy The Fabulous Four a whole lot more from start to end than you most likely will. 

This dedicated comedy delivers precisely what you can expect from it on paper and does not deviate from its entirely formulaic approach in any way, shape, or form. For some, particularly its targeted demographic, that will be less of a problem than it was for me. What started out perfectly pleasant soon allows itself to comfortable slip into every conceivable cliché imaginable as though it were a well-worn evening dress. The often silly shenanigans these four females participate in, over-the-top acting performances, its occasionally cringe dialogue, and an utterly unimaginative and foreseeable trajectory generates less laughter by the minute. For a while there, I even sat in my cinema seat feeling as though I were completely wasting my time. I’m conscious that my criticism may read as quite strong of a movie that is merely mediocre more so than it is bad. So rest assured those of you who (still) wish to see this no matter what, even the worst of what The Fabulous Four has to offer is still better than anything in My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3. Being more constructive now, The Fabulous Four could definitely have derived more of its humour from the past situation behind Marilyn and Louise’s friendship finish rather than sugar coating and smoothing over as it does. Same goes for its scenarios. There is quite a history of friendship for The Fabulous Four writers to invent and retrieve that is disappointingly overlooked in favour of frivolous and forgettable escapism.

The Fabulous Four is showing in cinemas across Australia from August 1st.

Moviedoc thanks Transmission and TM Publicity for the invitation to the screening of this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

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