| CALENDAR GIRLS |
 2003 - USADirector: Nigel Cole - Reviewed by Linda
However, I will encourage you to go see Calendar Girls, starring Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. I mean, it is a *nice* movie for goodness sake. There is no violence, no CGI, just a tad bit of drama, and lots of good-natured laughs. It is a light, refreshing break from all of the "important" movies out right now, that are jostling for end-of-year award nominations. Based on a true story, the plot is quite simple. A bunch of middle-aged British ladies doff their clothes for a calendar to raise money to buy a couch for the leukemia ward at their local hospital. The idea is rolled into motion by sassy Chris (Mirren) when her best friend Annie's (Walters) husband John dies of the disease. Instead of the local W.I.(Women's Institute... kind of like a women's social club) releasing yet another calendar of flowers or vegetables, well, why not feature the local "flowers" in the prime of their bloom? Mind you, the shots are tasteful: a carefully place butter press here, a carefully positioned teapot there, or perhaps some carefully piled pastries... "We're going to need bigger buns" indeed! Though admittedly Calendar Girls is a bit of a one-joke story, the story is sweet, and the ladies are absolutely smashing. Helen Mirren and Julie Walters have a fabulous chemistry as best friends, bonded by wry humor and true affection that just radiates off the screen. And is it necessary to point out that they are both knockouts? All the women featured in the calendar are late-40s-ish and up, and it is a real treat to see so many women in one film that aren't toothpick-thin fresh-faced young things. Leave it to the Brits to make another crowd-pleasing film about regular folks stripping for a good cause (see The Full Monty). Personally, for my photo shoot I think I would go for a strategically-placed printing press... or perhaps a computer screen... or maybe an espresso machine... |
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