Book Club (2018)

A Disappointing Continuation

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

The movie really just wants to entertain people.

I watched this film with my wife not expecting it to be for me but I was pleasantly surprised, it was well acted, which I expected from such a strong cast and in parts quiet amusing. While it may have been a bit (well a lot) formulaic and the end could be guessed from very early on it wasn't a bad way to spend an hour and 45 minutes.

By all means, watch this movie for the home decor (some really great kitchens), style tips (Diane Keaton is, as ever, impeccable), smart one-liners (expertly delivered) or Hollywood pizzazz (four very well-preserved leading ladies). It is a satisfying entertainment on all those levels - slickly produced and tastefully photographed; a light, sugary, nutritionally dubious confection of a movie. Just, whatever you do, don't stop to think about any of it. The moment you do the whole thing collapses into a sloppy, nonsensical and rather offensive heap. For one thing, all four of the central characters are patronisingly written as smart, accomplished women who are nevertheless shockingly incapable of doing even the slightest thing in the interests of their own personal happiness. Diane Keaton's character - Diane! - is bullied by her daughters into moving all the way to Arizona before she can work up the nerve to tell them that she's perfectly happy living her own life and isn't ready yet for the granny flat (or, in this case, basement). It may serve the story structure and deliver a (sort of) emotionally-satisfying crisis and climax, but it makes her pathetic and spineless. And it takes all of Keaton's likability to make it fly. It's pretty much the same dynamic with the other characters too. Fortunately, Fonda, Bergen and Steenburgen also have just enough charisma and energy to (mostly) distract from the preposterousness of it all. Of course, there's nothing wrong with a little escapism. But you'd think that these four smart women would be able to insist on slightly smarter escapism.

Funny movie with a great cast. Enjoy the movie without taking it too serious. I think Keaton's character truly shows the struggle an aging parent goes through when trying to balance family with a new life in your later years.

Four experienced actresses give life to a funny script with many laughs about the inner life of the four protagonists. Don't expect much realism in the other figures who mostly serve as staffage.