Calendar Girls Review
by Rose 'Bams' Cooper (bams AT 3blackchicks DOT com)January 12th, 2004
'3BlackChicks Review...'
CALENDAR GIRLS (2003)
Rated PG-13; running time 108 minutes
Studio: Touchstone Pictures (Disney)
Genre: Comedy
Seen at: Emagine Entertainment (Novi, Michigan)
Official site: http://calendarGIRLS.movies.com/
IMDB site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337909/combined Writer: Juliette Towhidi, Tim Firth
Director: Nigel Cole
Cast: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, John Alderton, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Philip Glenister, Ciaran Hinds, Celia Imrie, Geraldine James, Penelope Wilton
Review Copyright Rose Cooper, 2004
Review URL:
http://www.3blackchicks.com/2004reviews/bamscalendar.html
The first time I saw the CALENDAR GIRLS trailer, and noticed it was a Touchstone (Disney) release, I rolled my eyes a bit. Disney isn't quite known for their surprise endings, after all. But when I saw who the two leads were, I figured I'd be in for a treat. I hoped.
THE STORY (WARNING: **spoilers contained below**)
CALENDAR GIRLS is based on the true story of a group of women who bared all for a good cause.
The Women's Institute of Yorkshire, England, was a hotbed of activity. What's hotter than making jam, arranging flowers, and baking, after all? Two of the women, Annie (Julie Walters) and Chris (Helen Mirren), make light of the seriousness with which their fellow WI members take their chosen tasks. But when tragedy befalls Annie's husband John (John Alderton), Chris and fellow WI'ers come together to support Annie, in ways neither of them could have ever imagined. To raise money for charity, Chris and Annie, along with Cora (Linda Bassett), Jessie (Annette Crosbie), and Celia (the hilarious Celia Imrie), decide to forgo the usual humdrum WI calendar. This year, instead, they create their own calendar of tastefully nude photos - of themselves.
THE UPSHOT
There's humor, and then there's British Humour. As many a European reader have pointed out to this quite American reviewer, there is a difference (what some of those same readers have failed to notice, is that I know this. But I digress). Fortunately, CALENDAR GIRLS excels in that elusive thing known as Dry British Wit.
That GIRLS does so is in no small part due to its leads, Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. I've been a fan of Walters ever since I saw her a lifetime ago in EDUCATING RITA. She had a quality about her, even then, that made me take notice of her, though I don't recall seeing her in a movie again until BILLY ELLIOT. But that first time was enough to make me anxious to see GIRLS, if only because I knew she was in it. She didn't disappoint, though her character was overshadowed a bit by Helen Mirren's extroverted Chris. Mirren, who I've only ever seen in serious roles, was a hoot as the Rebel Girl. Even when their characters got bogged down in paint-by-numbers Situations, Mirren and Walters hung in there like the top-notch actresses they are.
The supporting cast was good, though I never got a feel for any of them past archetypes ("the rich one", "the mousy one", "the beyouch"...). Each of the supporting characters was pleasant enough, funny when they were supposed to be, and convincing as mature women doing a good thing for the right reason; but no one supporter stood out for me. Hmmm...on second thought, one did: Celia Imrie, whose character's obsession with her breasts left the audience I was in, chuckling whenever she got going.
Which leads me to another issue: there were long stretches in which it was difficult to hear the dialogue - partly due to quite British whispers, and partly due to the loud laughter in the audience. Overall, though, laughter won out; and if I have to go see this movie again just to catch what I missed the first time, I am quite jiggy with it.
There's really nothing new in CALENDAR GIRLS to speak of; the setup, story, punchline, and conclusion are fairly obvious from the start, no surprises there. What makes GIRLS worth seeing is the uniquely British wit of Mirren, Walters, et al. Well, that, and the buns.
BAMMER'S BOTTOM LINE
CALENDAR GIRLS is formulaic, sure; but its witty, mature co-stars make it great fun.
CALENDAR GIRLS rating: greenlight
Rose "Bams" Cooper
Webchick and Editor,
3BlackChicks Review
Entertainment Reviews With Flava!
Copyright Rose Cooper, 2004
EMAIL: [email protected]
http://www.3blackchicks.com/
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