Book Club (dir. Bill Holderman)

Time will tell if Bill Holderman’s affable comedy “Book Club” will ingratiate itself into the “golden years” demographic of classical romps, in the vein of “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” or even “Calendar Girls”. Though the “Walk In The Woods” director has the unenviable task of presenting a film with some of Hollywood’s most talented actresses: Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen and Candice Bergen (a dream cast; anyone of these fine ladies could happily lead this film), only a cynic would attest this bawdy comedy is anything less than entertaining - helped immensely by it’s leading quartet. This time around they play lifelong friends, who regularly meet up to discuss the latest racy novel, in-between their next gulp of Californian wine - with their latest book of choice being the infamous “50 Shades Of Grey”.

Though it should be noted that around twenty-five minutes into “Book Club”, i wondered if i had accidentally wandered into a feature-film adaptation of a revered BBC television series from the 90’s, as the introduction of our leading ladies plays heavily on nostalgic vigor. Thankfully, with a snappy script co-written by our director and Erin Simms, as soon as our central plot veers clear free form the awkward raciness, it settles into a perfectly fine romance-drama with important messages about love in your later years.

Fonda plays Vivian, the de-factor matriarch of a group of lifelong friends, who meet sporadically for their monthly book club. A successful hotelier, who has lived a satisfying life of casual encounters with male suitors, Vivian is happy with her voracious sexual appetite, so when it’s her turn to choose the book, of course she picks “Fifty Shades of Grey”. Fellow companion Diane (Diane Keaton) is recently widowed and lives in constant fear of her overbearing daughters Jill (Alicia Silverstone) and Arianna (Katie Aselton), whilst Federal Judge Sharon (Bergen) has just seen her husband Tom (Ed Begley Jr) jet off to Hawaii with a much younger woman. Rounding off the group is the always watchable Steenburgen, who plays the unhappily married Carol. .

At it’s best, "Book Club" functions much like it’s characters favorite beverage: a nonchalantly sipped well-aged fine wine during the encroaching Californian sunset. It all goes down very nicely, though you will have to trudge through the occasional moments of awkward raciness to get to the much more watchable individual romances. E.L James’ widely popular kinky novel merely becomes the catalyst for our headstrong women to seek the answers to the problems of white privilege.

First off them to meet their match is Vivian (Fonda), who accidentally walks into old flame Arthur (Don Johnson: who’s real life daughter Dakota Johnson played the lead actress in the film versions of "50 shades of Grey") is the charming and well-tanned radio host, with whom Vivian had a past dalliance with over four decades ago. He’s back in town and wants to meet up, apparently his botched proposal is all in the past and he’s adamant he wants to date again. Similarly for Diane (Keaton), who’s daughters are keen on getting her to move to Arizona, meets handsome airline pilot Mitchell (Andy Garcia) and is soon swanning around with him in his vast Californian estate. Sharon (Bergen) dips her toes in the waters of online dating, finding relative success with the charismatic Richard Dreyfuss and - during one awkward encounter - a always friendly Wallace Shawn. Carol (Steenburgen) on the other hand, is upset with her husbands lack of sex drive, and so attempts to spike his beer with a mood enhancer of sorts - and soon faces a highway patrolman in a manor of extreme duress.

Admittedly, "Book Club" plays like a fairly episodic Lifetime movie, though the unique selling point is it’s terrific cast. Fonda, Bergen, Steenburgen and Keaton are all on top form, and under the tutelage of a writer/director Bill Holderman are in safe hands. The former author is clearly attuned to his characters strengths, playing their individual set-pieces to a note-perfect rendition of sub-Nancy Myers rom-com's of the 70’s. Though nothing to write home about, there are a handful of laughs, most notably in the form of Candice Bergen’s zany one-liners, and though ramshackle in places, plays heavily on it’s experienced cast and with a cheerful undercurrent of female solidarity, is nicely rewarding.

Rating 3/5.