Calendar Girls (B- or 2.5/4 stars)
Helen Mirren, Julie Walters & a who's who of British thespians star in director Nigel Cole's 2003 crowd-pleasing comedy, 'Calendar Girls'. Chris (Mirren) & Annie (Walters) are best friends who live in a quaint village in the Yorkshire Dales; and are members of the local Women's Institute. Chris' supportive husband, Rod (Ciaran Hinds), runs a flower delivery service, while their son, Jem (John-Paul Macleod) has takes interest in both girls & marijuana. When Annie's beloved husband, John (John Alderton), goes to the hospital with cancer, both women are distraught. He writes a piece for the women's group on his favorite subject: sunflowers. With some poetic flourish, he compares the flower's beauty to women who, in their late stages of life, are glorious.
At his eventual funeral, these sunflowers show up as a tribute to him. In time, Chris comes across a porn magazine hidden under her teen son John's bed and, later on at a car mechanic's shop, she sees a calendar with women in sexy poses. She convinces Annie that they should make a calendar to raise $$ to fund a waiting room couch in the hospital ward where John passed away. Her radical twist is to have members of the Women's Institute pose nude, with traditional objects carefully blocking their private parts {photos of them doing activities such as cooking, knitting, slower arranging, & tickling the ivories.
They would need one volunteer for each month of the calendar year. At 1st, the women {mostly in their 50s} are abhorred at the idea ... but Chris & Annie convince them that they would not be fully naked but in the "nude"; and that a reluctant artistic photographer (Philip Glenister) would make all look tasteful. Of course, there are snags along the way such as apprehensive husbands, humiliated children, & the politics of getting permission from the national organization in London, which is run by the prim leader, Marie (Geraldine James). Repercussions, hilarity & affecting moments ensue.
'Calendar Girls' is a delightful English comedy inspired by the real-life story of the Rylstone & District Women's Institute - which strives to 'seek happiness in achievement'. Other characters in the vast ensemble include Ruth (Penelope Wilton, of Downton Abbey fame), whose husband is having an affair with another woman; Celia (Celia Imrie), a somewhat snooty, but loveable upper-class woman; Cora (Linda Bassett), an organist; Jessie (Annette Crosbie); and others. You'll chuckle as the old gals get nude in front of the male photographer. You may weep as Annie's husband, John, dies of cancer. And you'll cheer as the ladies fight the powers-that-be in the Women's Institute.
Helen Mirren & Julie Walters are wonderful here, and this film does a great job depicting the friendship btwn. Chris & Annie; who initially enjoy snickering at the themes chosen for the Institute meetings {broccoli, carpets, the history of the milk}. When Chris wins a baking contest with a sponge cake that she bought at a store, Annie can't believe it. And they find fulfillment orchestrating the calendar project, and must overcome friendship-testing the obstacles along the way {a jaunt to America to promote the calendar}. Penelope Wilton impresses as the wife whose adulterous husband (George Costigan) denounces her involvement in the calendar. And Geraldine James provides the unsympathetic role of Marie; who disapproves of the project.
Now, the script does not always seem to know what to do with some key characters. Mirren's loyal, encouraging, but shocked husband- played well by Ciaran Hinds - as well as their troubled son character could've been more clearly defined; they feel a bit like a square peg/round hole in the storyline. And both the narrative & the pacing of the film gets a bit unwieldy {and less funny} as the women head to America to expand upon their newfound superstardom. But my nitpicks end there. I adore Ashley Rowe's warm, fuzzy photography of the picturesque goings-on in the village. Patrick Doyle's music score is lovely. And I admired how these aging women were able to celebrate their bodies for a good cause. Decent film; just not a classic.
At his eventual funeral, these sunflowers show up as a tribute to him. In time, Chris comes across a porn magazine hidden under her teen son John's bed and, later on at a car mechanic's shop, she sees a calendar with women in sexy poses. She convinces Annie that they should make a calendar to raise $$ to fund a waiting room couch in the hospital ward where John passed away. Her radical twist is to have members of the Women's Institute pose nude, with traditional objects carefully blocking their private parts {photos of them doing activities such as cooking, knitting, slower arranging, & tickling the ivories.
They would need one volunteer for each month of the calendar year. At 1st, the women {mostly in their 50s} are abhorred at the idea ... but Chris & Annie convince them that they would not be fully naked but in the "nude"; and that a reluctant artistic photographer (Philip Glenister) would make all look tasteful. Of course, there are snags along the way such as apprehensive husbands, humiliated children, & the politics of getting permission from the national organization in London, which is run by the prim leader, Marie (Geraldine James). Repercussions, hilarity & affecting moments ensue.
'Calendar Girls' is a delightful English comedy inspired by the real-life story of the Rylstone & District Women's Institute - which strives to 'seek happiness in achievement'. Other characters in the vast ensemble include Ruth (Penelope Wilton, of Downton Abbey fame), whose husband is having an affair with another woman; Celia (Celia Imrie), a somewhat snooty, but loveable upper-class woman; Cora (Linda Bassett), an organist; Jessie (Annette Crosbie); and others. You'll chuckle as the old gals get nude in front of the male photographer. You may weep as Annie's husband, John, dies of cancer. And you'll cheer as the ladies fight the powers-that-be in the Women's Institute.
Helen Mirren & Julie Walters are wonderful here, and this film does a great job depicting the friendship btwn. Chris & Annie; who initially enjoy snickering at the themes chosen for the Institute meetings {broccoli, carpets, the history of the milk}. When Chris wins a baking contest with a sponge cake that she bought at a store, Annie can't believe it. And they find fulfillment orchestrating the calendar project, and must overcome friendship-testing the obstacles along the way {a jaunt to America to promote the calendar}. Penelope Wilton impresses as the wife whose adulterous husband (George Costigan) denounces her involvement in the calendar. And Geraldine James provides the unsympathetic role of Marie; who disapproves of the project.
Now, the script does not always seem to know what to do with some key characters. Mirren's loyal, encouraging, but shocked husband- played well by Ciaran Hinds - as well as their troubled son character could've been more clearly defined; they feel a bit like a square peg/round hole in the storyline. And both the narrative & the pacing of the film gets a bit unwieldy {and less funny} as the women head to America to expand upon their newfound superstardom. But my nitpicks end there. I adore Ashley Rowe's warm, fuzzy photography of the picturesque goings-on in the village. Patrick Doyle's music score is lovely. And I admired how these aging women were able to celebrate their bodies for a good cause. Decent film; just not a classic.