Earlier this summer we had to endure the misbegotten Summer Camp which was yet another attempt by Diane Keaton, joined by Kathy Bates and Alfre Woodard, to mix comedy and later-in-life drama in an older female bonding flick. Keaton had great success in the first film that announced this subgenre, 2018’s Book Club, which smartly matched four veteran actresses including Jane Fonda that led to a more mixed-results sequel set in Italy. Fonda also found real success in the subgenre with the entertaining 80 For Brady with Sally Field, Rita Moreno and Lily Tomlin along for the ride. Thus it seemed natural that other beloved female stars of a certain age would also want to jump on board in this game attempt to reverse Hollywood’s youth obsession and provide a little something-something for aging boomers everywhere.
The Fabulous Four is the latest to try out the formula, and at least it is good to report that it is better than Summer Camp, which came and went so quickly you would have missed it if you blinked. These movies, targeted at the AARP crowd (Girls Trip this is not) almost totally rely on the chemistry of casting, and this is where The Fabulous Four lives up to its name with Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph all trying to sock some hit-and-miss material home. It helps also that talented Australian director Jocelyn Moorhouse is behind the camera. The veteran filmmaker responsible for The Dressmaker, How to Make an American Quilt and the terrific Muriel’s Wedding is here steering the story set around more nuptials, this time being Marilyn’s wedding.
Midler plays Marilyn, an impulsive narcissist, constantly preening on TikTok and now deciding to get married again after losing her husband of 48 years. She thinks it would be swell to have her old gang of girlfriends come to Key West as her bridesmaids. They include Kitty (Ralph), whose daughter is trying to get her to move into a home, and eternal flirt and singer Alice (Mullally). Kitty and Alice also think it just wouldn’t be complete unless they coerced Lou (Sarandon), a successful single surgeon and cat lover, to join them for the big day. The only problem is Lou has not spoken to Marilyn in years, still smarting a half century later over seeing her own boyfriend snatched away by Marilyn who then married him.
In order to pull this off they make up a ludicrous story that Lou has won a rare six-toed cat in the Hemingway House’s contest but must appear in person on a certain weekend to claim it. Self-professed Hemingway fan and cat fanatic Lou buys into this somehow, and in no time is on a plane to Florida. It doesn’t take long before the jig is up and she discovers the real reason she has been lured there. Nevertheless she tries to make the best of it, keeping her distance as the other three engage in hijinks like a disastrous parasailing adventure that careens into unapologetic slapstick for our stars. There is also the inevitable outing to a male strip club where surprises await.
Of course this genre also provides for romance, and there is a little of that for Lou who meets an attractive man named Ted (Bruce Greenwood) as she saves the day when a teen steals his bike in broad daylight. There is also a boat captain, Ernie (Timothy V. Murphy), which gets her attention due to their shared love of Hemingway. To say complications arise is an understatement, and it all leads to be a big catfight, but not with the cats in this instance.
Each of the stars gets a moment to shine, but the real focus is on the rivalry between Marilyn and Lou. Sarandon nicely underplays it while Midler, in full Bette mode, isn’t afraid to go way over the top. She’s almost too much for the room, but affection for the star and our long history with her makes it easy to forgive the scenery-chewing moments. Mullally and Ralph are all pro all the way, and Greenwood makes a believable object of attraction for more than one of them. The screenplay by Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly is serviceable for the talents of this quartet who are more then capable of rising above it when needed. It all ends with a big dance number. Why not?
Producers are Richard Barton Lewis and Lauren Hantz. By my count there are also 31 executive producers (including the stars) listed as well. Apparently it takes a village to get a movie financed when your cast is all past retirement age.
Title: The Fabulous Four
Distributor: Bleecker Street
Release Date: July 26, 2024
Director: Jocelyn Moorhouse
Screenwriters: Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly
Cast: Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Bruce Greenwood, Timothy V. Murphy, Michael Bolton, Sophie von Haselberg, Brandee Evans, Kadan Well Bennett, Renika Williams, David Goren, Abigail Dolan
Rating: R
Running time: 1 hr 39 min