“You find out your mistakes from an audience that pays admission.”
Edgar Bergen
Book Club: My Review
Bruce Springsteen tells the story about when he was young. Chuck Berry, when he toured, flew into town with only his guitar. It was the job of the promoter to provide all the equipment and the band, which is how Bruce was there. Before the show, Bruce asked Chuck what songs they’d be playing that night. Chuck replied, briskly, “Chuck Berry songs”.
And that is how it should be.
The Book Club is loaded with talent. Jane Fonda has two Oscars, Diane Keaton has an Oscar, Mary Steenburgen has an Oscar and Candice Bergen has five Primetime Emmy Awards. These actresses can give a director any range of characters. But, we have come to this movie to see Jane Fonda be Jane Fonda. The same with Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen.
We want to see these actresses in a role but not too far from who they are because we love them. We grew up with them. They are life-long actresses with a Hall of Fame resume. We have bought the ticket to see them play.
And that is how it should be.
The movie plays right along. With sex as a theme, the jokes zip along at a steady pace. The situation of the comedy is that these are older ladies and each must have a something to solve. It satisfies in the clockwork of its resolution of each of the four stories right on time; one, two, three, four.
The backing band is pretty solid too. Don Johnson is charming, Andy Garcia is very good looking, Craig T. Nelson is still funny with great comic timing and we even see a brief scene with Oscar winning actor Richard Dreyfuss. These are good men to fall in love with, don’t you think?
Book Club knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be. It never gets lost along the way or dallies on some odd thing; it marches forward with confidence and a smile.
Add the book club crowd, the rom-com crowd, the chick flick crowd and I was lucky enough to sit in a packed house that was primed to laugh and have a good time. A good audience helps every review.
The Profound Bartender 