The First Wives Club (1996)

The First Wives Club (1996)

7/10

Starring

Diane Keaton

Bette Midler

Goldie Hawn

Directed by Hugh Wilson

The First Wives Club to me is one movie that just hits home at every turn. The movie packs some of the top leading ladies you can lay your hand on and it was like the female movement in the 90s before the #MeToo.

The movie was a surprised financial success, taking in that it got mixed reviews upon its release. I give the praise to the writing because the movie was close to being sad and depressed as it was about three women who were tired of being pushed around. The pushing around were from the men in their lives, but as the movie states it, these women decided it was time they pushed back. Their pushing back was fun to see, comedic to behold and strong, driving out all the blues from the tragic beginning.

Bette Midler (as Brenda), Diane Keaton (as Annie) and Goldie Hawn (as Elise) were the three leading ladies in this movie and they made sure that we knew it. The movie is based on a 1992 bestseller of the same by Olivia Goldsmith. The movie plot focus is on one of the ladies, Annie who also happens to be the narrator of the movie.

Annie starts the tale at their college when four lady friends graduated with big dreams for the future. The future comes, with them no longer in touch and what has brought them together in this present time is a letter from Cynthia, who had committed suicide.

Cynthia’s life was in a twirl she had just gone through a divorce and then to make it worse her Ex was now remarried to a younger more attractive lady.

The remaining three friends reconnect over a very long lunch. They soon found out that it was not just Cynthia having a hard time. Annie is separated from her husband and is battling low self-esteem issues. Brenda is divorced, her husband left her for a younger woman. Brenda is also depressed and going through a financial worm hole. Elise is financially settled as a movie star. She is a plastic surgery addict with alcohol problem, as her husband also left her for a younger woman.

They decided to be there for one another, bonded together to help each other get through the pain they are going through. They also decided to start a club to help other women who are going through the same thing. Movies like this do not end well, if there is not a tone of revenge as the three went after the men who hurt them.

The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Music Score, something you will understand when you see the movie. There has been many talk about a sequels and remakes, but I do hope when one is done it does deliver the same sort of fun that this first movie gave us.