Movie Review: The Women

It Doesn’t Get Any Easier As You Get Older

If I had known the problems that cursed my teen years would pale in significance against the perils of adulthood, I would probably have barricaded myself in my bedroom for all eternity with a lifetime supply of Cadbury’s best, New Kids on the Block on repeat, and a beta tape of Prince of Thieves for a good perve*.

Relationships as a young adult were as complex as your best friend pashing your crush at the blue light disco the weekend before you built up the courage to ask him out. The ultimate humiliation was the lead singer of the band at your Year 12 formal mistaking you for a teacher, and your “man” not holding your hand between English and Drama was reason enough for a break-up.

I thought, as I slipped into the later part of my late 20’s, I’d be on the home stretch toward domestic and romantic bliss. Not the case, as the latest Hopscotch drama /comedy The Women reveals…

Following a group of Manhattan socialites (ala Sex and the City, minus the sex) the drama revolves around Mary (Meg Ryan) a thoroughly modern do-it-all have-it all women with an age old problem; a cheating husband. Add to the mix the vixen adulteress (Eva Mendes), a backstabbing best friend (Annette Benning) and suddenly your high school horror doesn’t seem so bad.

The Women is wise-cracking, pro-feminist and realistic. Upon news of her husband’s infidelity Mary heads straight for the chocolate as any self respecting woman with a broken heart would do.

What’s surprising about this film is while focusing on the interaction within relationships, the cast of 1000-stars is all female. Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Debra Messing, Candice Bergam, Carrie Fischer, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Eva Mendes, Bette Midler – a cast with this much oestrogen star-power could sync menstrual cycles across the globe! The Women screams for a night out with the girls, loading up on Chocettes and sharing relationship disaster stories.

At Greater Union Glendale from October 23.

*Kevin Costner was my secret and shameful 90’s crush!