Calendar Girls (2003/2004)
Helen Mirren is hot. That's really
what this film is about. A celebration of the female
form, in all its glorious MILF-dom (and Grand-MILF-don),
"Calendar Girls" consistently reminds you just how
beautiful women can be.
So who cares about story and plot
writing? The film is flimsy and the exposition can
be ham-handed at times, but "Calendar Girls" is just
so humorous and so downright sexy to look at that
things like character arc and plot exposition seem
like hang-ups.
The plot of the film is known to
anyone walking in the doors of the theater, but nonetheless
"Calendar Girls" takes quite a while to get through
its set-up. First we meet Mirren, Julie Walters, their
friends from a ladies club, their husbands and Mirren's
character's teenage son. Walters and Mirren have incredible
chemistry together and it is easy to believe them
as longtime friends. And so, even though we know exactly
where the film is headed, the journey getting there
is easily bearable. And its fun. There's just loads
of wonderful humor in the film.
Because the film is British, the
language and some of the plot elements take a bit
of getting used to. Having BBC America on cable at
home or some other exposure to the way Brits talk
will help. Odd terms will come up, like "rubber housewife"
(which is the Brit term for a blow-up doll). And a
big part of the plot is that Mirren and Walters belong
to a W.I. (Women's Institute) and it takes a little
bit of time to figure out exactly what all that is
about.
"Calendar Girls" is a fun romp and
you'll find yourself giggling profusely at the characters
and situations in the film. This more than makes up
for the messy ending that is tied up way too neatly
and the trite treatment given to Walters' character's
emotions. Plus there's some beautiful older women
in various states of undress in the film. That's what
you really paid for isn't it?
Note:
Also with cameos by Jay Leno and
the crappy band Anthrax.
Based on a true story.
Released in a limited amount of
theaters in December 2003 in US and then wide on the
New Years Day of 2004.
Viewed in Austin in January 2004
(in fact, the first film I saw in a theater this year)
with my roomie Amanda.
