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The Women

Aside from lesbian erotica or some weird matriarchal sci-fi stuff I don't think I've ever seen another movie with absolutely no men in it before. I'm not just talking about the main characters here, I mean everyone; even the background extras are all female. It was a little disconcerting to say the least. From what I've been told this was also true of the original 1939 film of the same title, but of course some how that film never made it on my netflix que so I can't guarantee anything.

The absolute epitome of the dreaded term, chick flick, The Women is the story of four friends (no, it's not a Sex and the City prequel although on the surface it will appear that way) as one of them struggles through an impending divorce due to a cheating well-to-do never seen husband.

The always beautiful, practically ageless Meg Ryan plays Mary Haines a woman who is seemingly leading the perfect life. She has a wealthy husband, a job working for her father in fashion, is the head of many different charitable organizations, lives in a beautiful home in Connecticut and is basically everything to everyone. When her best friend Sylvie (Annette Bening) overhears from a catty manicurist played by Entourage star Debi Mazar, that Mary's husband is cheating on her with the perfume counter spritzer girl, the gorgeous Eva Mendes the group of four friends go into disaster mode to help their friend through this difficult time.

Rounding out the quartet are Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith) the lesbian party girl author who has a 'tell it like it is attitude' (I know, big shock) and the overly fertile Edie played by the amazingly funny Will & Grace Alumn, Debra Messing. Each member of the group has a different way of trying to help their friend and of course all have issues of their own to work out as well.

And just as a side note, Messing probably has the least screen time of the four and is the worst fashion victim ever put to film (seriously, the costume designer should be shot) but her final scene absolutely steals the film. I spent the entire 114 minutes barely breaking a smile, but when her final moments happen I laughed out loud and really enjoyed myself.

Overall unfortunately, the script should have been far more polished before it went to screen. With this unbelievable cast of actresses you don't waste time with lines that don't punch each and every time out of the box. (no mysogonistic pun intended) But in

almost every scene I felt like their talents were being wasted. The jokes were all very old hat, nothing new or fresh. I assume that the over 50 crowd might be comforted by recognizing almost every line but for anyone looking to be entertained for the first time, it's not going to happen.

It's also not just the lead cast here that's impressive; the film has a bevy of supporting players that floored me. When was the last time we saw Cloris Leachman on film or Carrie Fisher in something other than a failed reality series? Not to mention giants like Candice Bergen and Bette Midler. I mean, how do you mess that up?

I suppose the only way to answer that question is for you to head out to theaters and see for yourself. Honestly though I would recommend waiting for DVD or even just wait until it shows up on HBO. Trust me you won't be missing much.

Sadly I must say that I loved the ladies, but hated The Women

Movie Grade: C-

Synopsis:

Set in New York City’s modern whirl of fashion and publishing, “The Women” tells the story of Mary Haines (Meg Ryan), a clothing designer who seems to have it all "” a beautiful country home, a rich financier husband, an adorable 11-year-old daughter and a part-time career creating designs for her father's venerable clothing company. Her best friend, Sylvie Fowler (Annette Bening), leads another enviable life "” a happily single editor of a prominent fashion magazine, a possessor of a huge closet of designer clothes and a revered arbiter of taste and style poised on New York's cutting edge. But when Mary's husband enters into an affair with Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes), a sultry 'spritzer girl' lurking behind the Saks Fifth Avenue perfume counter, all hell breaks loose. Mary and Sylvie's relationship is tested to the breaking point while their tight-knit circle of friends, including mega-mommy Edie Cohen (Debra Messing) and author Alex Fisher (Jada Pinkett-Smith), all start to question their own friendships and romantic relationships as well.