The Book Club…the movie…

I’m sure most of you have heard about the movie, “The Book Club” and quite possibly some of you have already seen it.  I went to the movie last weekend and have been thinking about it ever since.  The movie is light and predictable, probably isn’t going to win any awards (at least I don’t think so) but the subject material is thought-provoking.

The four main characters are women in their mid-’60s (Jane Fonda, 81, looking young enough to easily pass for this age group!).  All, accomplished and attractive,  have been friends since the 1970s  and have been meeting for decades for their monthly book club.  This year they’ve decided to read books that have been made into movies.   Vivian (Jane Fonda), a successful hotelier, single with an active, casual sex life,  chooses,  “Fifty Shades of Grey”,  for her book of the month pick.  The other three women “poo poo” this silly little book feeling they are so beyond the storyline both intellectually as well as questioning the risque content for their “mature” age group.  They do, however, agree to read it and in doing so they realize that they have allowed themselves to get old…

I think the movie accurately portrays the insecurities we all have.  Three of the characters are single… one by choice, one long timed divorced and one recently widowed.  Carol, the other character has been “comfortably” married for 35 years.  After reading the book they all find the courage to step out of their comfort zone and find the excitement they have been missing in their lives.  I wondered… if I was a character in the movie would I have allowed myself to get out of my nine dots?

Early in the movie, Vivian says, “I’m not going to let us become those people who stop living before they stop living”.   How many of us are getting old before the past due date?

 

It’s encouraging that Hollywood has realized that there are good screenplays for women (and men) beyond 50.  Maybe 60 really can be the new 40!

 

xxx Judy

*”The Book Club”, is a comedy starring  Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Diane Keaton, and Mary Steenburgen