#REVIEW: “BOOK CLUB”

Review by Amanda Gilmore for Mr. Will Wong

Book Club follows four women who have been attending their monthly Book Club for 40 years. Diane’s (Diane Keaton) husband died a year ago and her two daughters are now trying to get her to move in with them, because they fear she is too old. Vivian (Jane Fonda) refuses to have any emotional attachments to a man due to the fear of being heartbroken. Sharon (Candice Bergen) has been divorced from her husband for 18 years but still hasn’t been able to work through it. And Carol (Mary Steenburgen) has been in a sexual rut with her husband for the past six months. When it’s Vivian‘s turn to pick the book of the month she chooses Fifty Shades Of Grey, and soon all of the women’s lives begin to change.

There is something special about Book Club, well not so much something, more like all of it. Director-Writer Bill Holderman and Writer Erin Simms write a strong, funny, and heart-warming Script that makes it hard not to love this Film. This Film has four powerful, successful, beautiful, and complex female characters leading it that make’s it impossible not to love them. And the exorbitantly talented Cast takes these characters and makes them even more captivating.

When there is an Oscar-caliber Cast as this, everyone knows that they’re in for a treat, and that they are. Keaton is phenomenal as Diane who has done everything for everyone else, but starts to realize that sometimes life is about taking care of yourself. Fonda is spectacular as Vivian who is questioning her motto of never having an emotional relationship when Arthur (Don Johnson), who was the only man she had a relationship with, 40 years ago, sweeps into her life again. Bergen is hilarious as Sharon who has started up a Bumble account to get back into the dating game. And Steenburgen is magnificent as Carol who really wants to re-ignite that sexual connection with her husband.

Overall, Book Club has a fearless and talented Cast that never disappoints. It’s also a Film that isn’t only for women. The Comedy is rooted in reality and will make anyone laugh.

Paramount Pictures Canada release BOOK CLUB on Friday, May 18, 2018.