The Women
Movie details
In New York City's modern whirl of fashion and publishing, Mary Haines seems to have it all - a beautiful country home, a rich financier husband, an adorable 11-year-old daughter and a part-time career creating designs for her father's venerable clothing company. But when Mary's husband enters into an affair with Crystal Allen, a sultry "spritzer girl" lurking behind the Saks Fifth Avenue perfume counter, all hell breaks loose. Her friendship with her close friends is now put to the test as her and her friends question their loyalty to each other, and romantic relationships too.
Director Diane English
Stars Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing
Mild sexual references, coarse language and drug references
Our review
"The Women" is an adaption of the 1930s spoof that ruffled many a feather among Manhattan's high society. It was originally written by Clare Booth Luce as a poison pen letter to the women she loathed.
Similar to its predecessor, "The Women" is devoid of men, however in a giant leap from the original script the modern-day version is missing the unashamed catfights which made it such a hit in the first place.
"The Women" is Diane English's (of "Murphy Brown" fame) first foray into feature films. At first impressions, the film is reminiscent of "Sex and the City" with an opening montage of sexy pins strutting along the streets of Manhattan. But this film lacks the pace, punch and sass of "SATC".
At the centre of the tale is Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), a Connecticut superwoman who's tackling an issue that's as relevant today as it was in the 1930s - infidelity. Through the gossip grapevine, it comes to Mary's attention that her Wall Street tycoon husband is having an affair with a perfume "spritzer girl", Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes).
With Mary's marriage in tatters, the ladies in her life rally to her side, led by best friend and magazine editor Sylvie Fowler (Annette Bening). Bening is almost unrecognisable in her role, with uncharacteristic shoulder-length hair and an uncanny resemblance to Diane Keating. Joining the principal cast are Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith and Candice Bergen.
Somewhat predictably, Mary embarks on a soul-searching mission, complete with a trip to a yoga retreat where she questions what she really wants in life. While a guest appearance by Bette Midler manages to draw some laughs, it all feels a bit cliched and hard to believe given the men who are so crucial to the script are nowhere to be seen.
Fundamentally, this is a movie about relationships in all shapes and forms - mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and foes. While "The Women" is endearing in parts and entertaining in others, you can't escape the omnipresent feeling that something is missing - could it be men?
5/10
Amy McIntosh
In compiling yourTime content, HWW relies upon information supplied by a number of sources. yourTime content is supplied on the basis that while HWW believes that all the information in it will be correct at time of publishing, it does not warrant its accuracy or completeness.
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