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Calendar Girls 2003 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Nigel Cole
PG-13, 108 min. (nudity, some language, drug-related material) |
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Starring: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Annette Crosby, Linda Bassett, Geraldine James, Ciaran Hinds, John Alderton
Producers: Nick Barton, Suzanne Mackie
Screenplay: Tim Firth, Juliette Towhidi
Cinematography: Ashley Rowe
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Released: 12.19.03 (Limited), 1.02.04 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Based on the true story of a group of middle-aged British women posing semi-nude for a calendar shoot, Calendar Girls
finds just enough humor and sweet-natured intentions to satisfy most viewers. Much in the tradition of the surprise hit
The Full Monty, this film, directed by Nigel Cole, capitalizes on the risqué sensibilities of English society,
which under normal circumstances would frown upon such shenanigans. Although not as inspired as The Full Monty, Calendar
Girls has the benefit of talent that Helen Mirren and Julie Walters bring to the screen, even if the screenplay has some
manipulative tendencies. Their infectious spirit in the production spreads through the rest of the picture like a mild attack of
the laughter bug. The film is simply too fun to dismiss.
Best friends Chris Harper (Helen Mirren) and Annie Clarke (Julie Walters) employ the local talents - fellow members (Celia (Celia Imrie), Jessie (Annette Crosby), and Cora (Linda Bassett)) of their
local chapter of the Women's Institute - to fill the pages of a pin-up calendar, which is motivated by Annie's desire to raise
money for the fight against cancer (her husband John passes away of leukemia early in the picture) and the local hospital's need
for a new sofa (for which family members can rest while awaiting their loved ones during cancer treatment sessions).
Of course, there is resistance. The president (Geraldine James) of their chapter is apalled by the idea, and their family members are wary of
the publicity and possible embarassment. But that doesn't stop them, employing a photographer and proceeding to pose nude
strategically behind an assortment of desserts and kitchen items for the pictures. An instant success, the now famed
"calendar girls" are swept away by national attention and a trip to Hollywood to appear on the "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.
Meanwhile, Chris' husband (Ciaran Hinds) and son are suffering through neglect, and some of the other women's families have
problems of their own.
This seems to be the film's major weakness, that screenwriters Tim Firtha and Juliette Towhidi felt forced to include melodramatic
undercurrents to a film that in reality had no real obstacles to overcome. But, according to screenwriting 101, uplifting stories
such as this require a hint of conflict in order to make the eventual triumph fully satisfying. The final parts of the film become
draining and unnecessary, as if the controversy was manufactured only to add disjointed weight to the picture. To be fair,
Cole and his filmmakers do an admirable job of keeping things running smoothly despite a few rough spots.
Calendar Girls works because it tantalizes on the idea of women over 50 taking their clothes off, even if for only a modest
amount of skin. The viewer, especially those in the target audience (women in their fifties), can relate to the fear of stage
fright at the most intimate level. Even in front of friends and a responsible photographer, nudity can be an unnerving
experience. That the women of Yorkshire, whose, according to the departed John, "last stage is the most glorious," tap into
the female empowerment is not so much a matter of choice as it is a necessity to feel alive beyond the mundane exercise
of daily routine.
© 2003 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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