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THE WOMEN

Starring: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Jada Pinkett Smith, Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen, Carrie Fisher and Cloris Leachman

Directed by: Diane English

PG-13 for sex-related material, language, some drug use and brief smoking

By John Delia

The Women is a film about women, for women and contains only one male in the whole film, so how good can that be?  I guess if you were female it would be great, considering the acting is superb, the direction fair and the content yummy (delightful to the extremely well to do).  Oh, did I say chick flick?

Since I am of the opposite gender and not wanting to be biased about the film, here is how the studio describes The Women. “What happens when you combine a brilliant, all-female, all-star cast, headed by Meg Ryan and Annette Bening; celebrated comedy writer/director/producer Diane English (“Murphy Brown”); and a classic story about a circle of New York friends?  The answer is The Women, a smart, sparkling comedy about contemporary womanhood and the power of female relationships.  Based on George Cukor’s 1939 film and Clare Boothe Luce’s 1936 stage play, The Women whisks us into a busy pocket of Manhattan society, where the publishing, fashion and finance industries play.  At the center of the tale is Ryan’s character, Mary Haines, a thoroughly modern woman suddenly confronted with an age-old dilemma: a cheating husband.  The ladies in her life swiftly rally to Mary’s side, led by her best friend, Sylvie Fowler, a dynamic magazine editor played by Bening.  But when Sylvie betrays Mary in a Faustian bargain, the entire group is shaken to the core – and two women face the most painful breakup of all - their friendship.

If the story sounds familiar then you probably saw the recent Sex and the City or you watch TV’s Lipstick Jungle, both with similar themes and a lot of upscale accessories and clothing.   As far as acting goes, there are some very meaty roles that are ably performed by Annette Bening as the friend who turns coat when she finds her job is in jeopardy.  Bening shows her great talent for worming her way out of some impossible situations.  As for the femme fatale of the ensemble, Eva Mendez is a hoot as the ‘other woman.’  Most women should love the scene in the dressing room at Saks, I should have covered my eyes and blocked my ears.

As far as the men are concerned, the film is like looking into a fishbowl filled with women who are catty, crafty and sometimes very disturbing.  And, you may not want to make this a date movie for you and your significant other, especially if she is your mistress.  You are probably better off letting her see the film with some of her gal friends who will probably either get a kick out of the film or hate it.  

FINAL ANALYSIS:  The Women is the chick flick of all chick flicks, so males beware.