The First Wives Club

Rating:
Summary: How could they do this to such a good book?!
Review: Maybe it's because I read the book first. I loved the story so much that I couldn't wait to see what the movie was going to be like. Then when I heard about Diane Keaton, Bette Midler, and Goldie Hawn being cast in the leads, I thought that was perfect. Then I saw the movie.

The story from the novel was almost completely destroyed. Distorted beyond recognition, the story went from a witty tale of the elegant and well-deserved revenge that the First Wives take on their husbands (who, by the way, were scumbags for more reasons than just leaving them), to a schmaltzy sobfest, over loaded with soft soap, tears, and reconciliation.

HELLO?! In the book, THE POINT WAS NOT FOR THE WOMEN TO GET THEIR HUSBANDS BACK!

I also didn't appreciate the fact that the movie chose to ignore several secondary but important aspects in the character's lives. No mention is made of Annie's mentally handicapped daughter; instead her son and daughter are merged into one character. We don't hear about the death of Elise's mother and the effect that had on her life. And Brenda's coming out as a lesbian, which is supported by both Annie and Elise, is also not a part of the movie. All of these influences in the novel help to shape the characters and are a big part of their lives. Annie's husband squanders the trust fund she establishes for her daughter, and it provides the deepest motivation for her to join in the revenge plot. Elise blossoms as she breaks her mother's rules of never loving someone younger and poorer than you, and Brenda faces who she truly is. These subplots give all 3 characters depth.

In the movie, of course, all this is ignored. Oh, they tried to make it a lighthearted comedy, and there are some truly funny moments, and Midler, Keaton, and Hawn are all excellent in their roles, but the novel is not a comedy. What happened to these women when their husbands left them is not a comedy, although the way they dealt with it in the novel had wit, style, and lots of chutzpah. I don't know, maybe Hollywood was too chicken to show three women meting out financial and social justice to the husbands that left them for newer models...after all, I bet there are *lots* of First wives in Hollywood.

If you loved the book, DON'T see the movie.

Rating:
Summary: People LIKE this movie?!?
Review: First of all, allow me to say one thing: I am sick of people only writing reviews of the movies they really love. It is possible to write BAD reviews as well folks....in fact, it's much more fun than writing good ones. Think of some movies you really hate, then go and rip into them with a scathing review. It's therapeutic!

Now on to this wretched movie. I'll say right off the bat that I was biased against this movie before I even saw it, for several reasons: I don't like Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, or Goldie Hawn - the three of them together have about as much talent as an arthritic flea. Also, I don't like this genre - the sort of movies where womankind is portrayed as being the most powerful force on Earth, and nothing, least of all a scurvy, double-dealing MAN, can stop it. And ladies wonder where the term "feminazi" came from - movies like this! BUT - even putting aside all my ill feelings, I STILL dind't like this movie, just because it has what is literally one of the worst casts ever assembled for a big-budget Hollywood picture, and so therefore the acting is horrid; the writing is devilishly bad, and the direction is third-rate. Finally, and most importantly - the movie never made me believe that the husbands did anything so nasty that they deserved to be subjected to the dispicable acts of revenge perpetrated upon them by their ex-wives. So they cheated on their wives - big deal! It happens every day all over the world, and anyone who can't accept it to the degree that they feel the need to resort to sickening acts of vengeance needs to be institutionalized. What the wives do to the husbands is far, far, far worse than what the husbands do to the wives - thus, you lose any sympathy the movie wants you to feel for the heroines and you end up leaving depressed by the fact that these hapless dames just ran a royal screw-job over these poor saps and they are gonna get away scott-free. This isn't a "feel good" movie at all - it is a saddening indictment of the calamities that result when "girl power" is taken to the ultimate extremes. Shame on the cast, shame on the crew, and shame on any and all who enjoyed this dreck called "The First Wives Club".

Rating:
Summary: delightful every time!
Review: Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton star in the smash-hit comedy THE FIRST WIVE'S CLUB, a campy, brilliant modern classic!

Three savvy New York wives get the shock of their lives when their louses of spouses up and leave them for younger, prettier women!

There's nothing else for it; "Don't get mad, get EVERYTHING!"

Featuring powerhouse performances from all concerned, THE FIRST WIVE'S CLUB was hailed as an instant classic when released in 1996-97 and a worldwide box office smash.

Featuring Stockard Channing (GREASE), Elizabeth Berkeley (SHOWGIRLS), Eileen Heckart (BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE), Victor Garber (ANNIE), Marcia Gay Harden, Sarah Jessica Parker (SEX AND THE CITY, HOCUS POCUS), Dan Hedaya, Bronson Pinchot and Maggie Smith (SISTER ACT, THE SECRET GARDEN).

Rating:
Summary: Never underestimate the power of women untited!
Review: Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton are the three musketeers: all for one and one for all! After the suicide of their college friend (played by Stockard Channing), the three vow to never let men ruin their lives again. Coincidentally, all three of their husbands have simultaneously decided to leave their middle aged wives for "later models". Goldie and Diane have no trouble "getting even" with the bastards; only Bette still cares for her "Morty". In the end all turns out for the best, and Bette's dirty rat of a husband comes to his senses and falls back in love with her. The other two "pigs" are taken to the royal cleaners. -- The "You Don't Own Me" finale is beautiful. You'll laugh out loud, and have your mushy moments too. This is a great comedy and a wonderful showcase for the three leads. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: i love this movie!!!!
Review: ok the first time i saw this movie was in the theatre when it first came out and since then i just cant stop watching it! There are very few other movies that rank as high as this one on MY list! All my friends love it to. I also just love listening to the music from the move (especially "You Don't Own Me")!! "i don't tell u what to say. i don't tell u what to do. so just let me be myself thats all i ask of u...im young and i love to be young. im free and i love to be free...to live my life the way that i want...to say and do whatever i please..."

Rating:
Summary: I've seen a dozen times
Review: I LOVE this movie so much, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler and Diane Keaton are spectacular. I film was done with a great point to it. i've seen it a dozen time, i own on DVD and on VHS and i watch it over and over again everyone it is great you have to see it.

Rating:
Summary: FUNNY
Review: Now this is what you get when you cast the divine MS. M Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn a great funny film. The Film starts out with their friend Sylvia Played by Stockard Channing who commits suicide after her husband leaves her. At her funeral Elise Annie and Brenda meet up their. When at lunch they meet and they find out that all of their husbands had left them for younger women. So they decide to get justice on them. With a great script written by Paul Rudnick and Directed by Hugh Wilson. This is a movie to watch over and over again. The cast is well excellent and a great supporting cast. Bette Midler is great and so is Diane Keaton and Goldie hawn

Rating:
Summary: Unity of three women is a wonderful thing
Review: When I saw First Wives Club in the theater, I was not expecting for it to effect me as much as it has. This movie is not about three women just getting revenge on their ex-husbands. More importantly, it deals with long-lasting friendships and how hard that they are to maintain.

It took a common college friend's funeral to reunite these three women. Their dead friend wasn't so concerned about her ex-husband, but about the loneliness that she would feel without him being a part of her life.

I believe that anyone who has ever been in a relationship can understand that feeling of being alone without anyone in your life. This is what I like about this movie. It signifies that what we need in our lives are friends to share the good and bad times. We do not need friends to be there as a substitute for a significant other.

Midler, Hawn, and Keaton do a great job in portraying long time friends, who in their need to exact revenge on their former husbands, discover that what they really needed was each other to help them rediscover their self-esteem.

I would love to see the three women unite to do another movie. They have a wonderful chemistry together. I heard that they actually got along rather well on the set.

If you want to see a funny movie about friendship and love, then The First Wives Club is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Stellar cast, limpid script
Review: Bland stuff, despite herculean efforts by the three leading ladies (Keaton is especially valiant). A criminal waste of the great Maggie Smith. For a rainy, RAINY Sunday afternoon.

Rating:
Summary: A Five Star Comedy!
Review: This is one of my favorite movies. With outrageous performances by Bette Midler, Diane Keaton, and Goldie Hawn. This movie tells the story of three men that dumped their wives, and now the wives are getting back at them. This is a hilarious, and keep you on the edge of your seat movie.