Movie Review - Book Club

Book Club, the movie, is a good Sunday morning matinee -  beat the heat of TX summer – chick flick time killer. I went in with low expectations and came out amused. I like all of the actresses and I try to support “more mature” women.  Entertainment Weekly summed it up well – enjoy the novelty of four of the best actresses of their generation splash around in a film that actually lets them live, not just tastefully fossilize in some designated elder-citizen corner of the screen.

The book club meets monthly – federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen), widow Diane (Diane Keaton – my fave), chef Carol (Mary Steenburgen), and hotelier Vivian (Jane Fonda). Vivian decides to liven up the club with E.L. James Fifty Shades of Grey – shocking. The group protests and groans but end up reading it secretly embarrassed and yet fascinated. From there, we have sensual re-awakenings, however contrived. Diane meets a pilot (Andy Garcia) on a trek to  AZ to see her daughters who are convinced mom should move to assisted living. Sharon tries on line dating and meets Richard Dreyfuss – a normal schlumpy guy just trying to connect. She realizes there is more to life than her cat. Vivian runs into an ex (a very scrumptious Don Johnson) and learns that maybe she should not just love ‘em and leave ‘em. And Carol works to put some spark back into her marriage to Craig T. Nelson. He’s newly retired and has issues of his own.

There are funny lines, lovely homes and décor, and great fashion. The ladies look great and aren’t plastic scary. There are some poignant scenes along with some silly stuff. This is fluff – plain and simple. I think critics gave it a solid C.  I’m more generous and was entertained – I’ll go with B.  B for Book Club

Movie Review Madness - Finding Dory

Oh Pixar – you are wonderful. The magic of film truly lives with this company. An opening short film called Piper is magical – not many words. Just cute images of a baby sandpiper learning to dig up shells, learning about the power of the ocean, and truly finding his sea legs. Extraordinarily cute.  

Then our main event, Finding Dory, is beyond excellent. Superb animation – the film glows with color. Excellent story line – it picks up where Finding Nemo left off and has Dory finding her parents. But it also highlights learning challenges, memory, family, and friends. So many messages in a short film. However, it does not beat you over the head with stuff – the message is subtle but strong.  Enjoyable humor – nice warm chuckles with so many lines. Engaging characters – Dory, Marlin, Nemo, and Hank the octopus. Fabulous voice acting and well thought out rich characters.

Yes, I gush. This film is just entertaining and worthy of your money – see it on the big screen. Ellen DeGeneres is so sincere and rather poignant as Dory. With her short term memory loss she’s challenged. Yet the glow of her spirit shines and perseverance wins out. Her mother (Diane Keaton) and Dad (Eugene Levy) left her with good life lessons and slowly she works her way back to find them (spoiler alert – will there be a reunion??)

And Hank the octopus deserves his own film. Such a hoot. We know, from real life, how clever octopus are in escape, etc. Hank sets the example for intrepid escapes, schemes, and true friendship. He does not let Dory down.

I won’t give more away. Just go now and see Finding Dory– hear Albert Brooks (Marlin) fret for Dory, Nemo, and life. Root for Dory, the blue tang with a huge heart and big eyes to navigate the seas, the Marine Wild Life Institute (shout out to Sigourney Weaver), and find her roots – her path of seashells.  Glorious film making………this is why I love the movies!!!