By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
Following the success of the 2018 movie "Book Club" and last year's unexpected hit "80 for Brady," which celebrated the camaraderie of older women, Hollywood revisits the female romantic comedy genre once more with
"The Fabulous Four."
Starring
Susan Sarandon, ("The Gutter"),
Sheryl Lee Ralph, (TV's "Abbott Elementary"),
Megan Mullally, (TV's "Percy Jackson and the Olympians"), and
Bette Midler, ("Sitting in Bars with Cake"), this R-rated romp, directed by
Jocelyn Moorhouse ("Troppo"), aims to charm audiences with its comedic antics. At times "The Fabulous Four" succeeds.
While the chemistry between these leading ladies shine as friends navigating love and life, the screenplay from
Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly ("Golden Arm") occasionally falters, leaving some narrative threads underexplored and a number of predictable jokes and gags feeling forced.
In "The Fabulous Four" Sarandon plays Lou, a heart surgeon whose tranquil life revolves around her two cats. Lou and her boyfriend John used to be the life of the party. That was before Lou's best friend Marilyn (Midler), a Tik-Tok/social media sensation scooped in and swept John away. But, when John dies, Lou and Marilyn's once unbreakable bond hangs by a thread. They haven't spoken to each other in years.
Yet, Lou and Marilyn share a common ache--the absence of their two best friends. Alice (Mullally), a diva professional singer, and Kitty (a scene stealing Sheryl Lee Ralph), who defies convention by cultivating cannabis in her backyard, much to the chagrin of her devoutly religious daughter, Leslie (Brandee Evans, "Color Book").
However, fate has a way of reuniting old souls. Marilyn, who is now ready to remarry, hatches a whimsical plan: she wants Alice and Kitty to be her bridesmaids at her wedding in Key West, Florida.
The catch? Lou must attend too. Their scheme involves a mischievous cat, a dash of deception, and a sprinkle of nostalgia. It is just enough to lure Lou back into the fold.
As Lou unravels the ruse, she faces a choice: hold onto resentment or embrace the absurdity of the situation. An encounter with local bar owner Ted (Bruce Greenwood, TV's "The Fall of the House of Usher") adds some unexpected flavor to her trip.
With Marilyn as her reluctant ally, Lou navigates the rocky terrain of friendship, forgiveness, and other unexpected surprises. And so, against the backdrop of swaying palm trees and turquoise waters, these flawed and fabulous women embark on a journey that has some laughs and even tears.
Will Lou find it in her heart to forgive Marilyn? And what happens when secrets bubble to the surface and mishaps involving misplaced wedding attire and unexpected run-ins with old flames threaten to capsize the entire reunion?
While "The Fabulous Four" treads familiar ground and sure could have benefited from a funnier script, it's still refreshing to see this group of spirited, older women command the screen as they navigate the complexities of love, loss, and the sheer madness and messiness of life.
Look At This Trailer For
"THE FABULOUS FOUR"
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays now at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
