Imagine a reality where your life is forever changed by reading E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey series as part of the monthly, wine-infused book club you enjoy with three of your lifelong buds. Personally, I couldn’t even conceive of dragging any of my friends to the awful movie adaptations of these books, but they’re hardly the target audience for this unintentionally hilarious “erotica.” My friends also wouldn’t get much out of filmmaker Bill Holderman’s Book Club, which functions as a vastly more upscale, easy laugh update of The Golden Girls. In other words, I’d take my retired mother in a heartbeat to see this movie about a widow (Diane Keaton) who’s ready for new adventures—and is soon picked up by a handsome airline pilot (Andy Garcia) after he spots her embarrassingly enjoying a copy of James’ best-selling “mommy porn.” I’m sure my mom would laugh uproariously at the Viagra gag that makes for an outstanding scene between Diane’s chef pal Carol (Mary Steenburgen) and her husband Bruce (Craig T. Nelson), but who knows how she’d react to divorced federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen) and her internet dates or single hotelier Vivian (Jane Fonda) and her sexual appetite. They’d certainly give her a lot to talk about at the retirement home, though! (At Assembly Row, Boston Common, Fenway, Seaport and in the suburbs.)
Book Club
Four older women take a page out of 'Fifty Shades of Grey' in Bill Holderman’s 'Book Club'
By Brett Michel | Photo Credit: Melinda Sue Gordon | May 31, 2018
Book Club ★★
Imagine a reality where your life is forever changed by reading E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey series as part of the monthly, wine-infused book club you enjoy with three of your lifelong buds. Personally, I couldn’t even conceive of dragging any of my friends to the awful movie adaptations of these books, but they’re hardly the target audience for this unintentionally hilarious “erotica.” My friends also wouldn’t get much out of filmmaker Bill Holderman’s Book Club, which functions as a vastly more upscale, easy laugh update of The Golden Girls. In other words, I’d take my retired mother in a heartbeat to see this movie about a widow (Diane Keaton) who’s ready for new adventures—and is soon picked up by a handsome airline pilot (Andy Garcia) after he spots her embarrassingly enjoying a copy of James’ best-selling “mommy porn.” I’m sure my mom would laugh uproariously at the Viagra gag that makes for an outstanding scene between Diane’s chef pal Carol (Mary Steenburgen) and her husband Bruce (Craig T. Nelson), but who knows how she’d react to divorced federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen) and her internet dates or single hotelier Vivian (Jane Fonda) and her sexual appetite. They’d certainly give her a lot to talk about at the retirement home, though! (At Assembly Row, Boston Common, Fenway, Seaport and in the suburbs.)
Stay a step ahead with our newsletter on the latest in Boston living.
Sign me upView All Events
Related Articles
What to Watch This Weekend
Check out these movies playing in Boston...
Teen Spirit
Elle Fanning stars as a wannabe pop artist in Max Minghella’s 'Teen Spirit'...
Diane
Indies Rock
Independent Film Festival Boston reels in audiences again...
Winter Olympics - Feb. 11
Weekend Ideas: January 8, 2014
Standing Tall
Troy Andrews credits New Orleans mentors for fueling his own mission...
Boozy Bonds
Meryl Streep tanks in John Wells’ adaptation of August: Osage County...