Review: Calendar Girls (***)

CALENDAR GIRLS
A film review by Steve Rhodes

Copyright 2003 Steve Rhodes

RATING (0 TO ****): ***


CALENDAR GIRLS, something like a cute female version of THE FULL MONTY, was
inspired by a true story about a bunch of fiftyish women from a Yorkshire
church group who decided to raise money for a good cause, leukemia research,
by posing for a tastefully done, nude calendar. With a classy ensemble
cast, this British production's headline star is Helen Mirren ("Prime
Suspect"), who plays Chris Harper, the leader of a rogue group within the
local Women's Institute (WI).



Chris, a bored member of the WI, has tried to shake up the group in the past
with such activities as a vodka tasting. Her latest scandal occurs when she
wins the baking contest at the fair by submitting a cake from Marks &
Spencer. After sitting on an uncomfortable sofa in the waiting room at the
hospital with Annie (Julie Walters), whose husband is dying with leukemia,
Chris develops a radical idea. Rather than do the planned calendar of local
churches, their small town chapter of the WI should pose nude in order to
raise enough money to buy a new sofa for the hospital. The artistic
photographs would be done "nude," not "naked," with their breasts covered up
with foreground objects -- think AUSTIN POWERS. Some in the group are
aghast, believing that the endeavor doesn't fit into the group's charter of
"enlightenment, fun and friendship," but Chris soon gets enough women
volunteers to fill out the months.



Finding a photographer proves much trickier. They finally settle on
Lawrence (Philip Glenister), a nervous hospital orderly with photographic
ambitions.



A poem that Annie's husband, John (John Alderton), read her before he died
becomes the calendar group's inspiration. Comparing the flowers of
Yorkshire to its women, John said, "the last stage is always the most
glorious," adding, after a pause, "but then they quickly go to seed."



As the women come onboard the project, they talk about the attitude of
nudity within their families. One woman says it best. Nudity between her
and her husband is always "on a need-to-know basis only." There is also a
snide comment about the French openness towards the subject.



Even if you don't like the movie -- highly unlikely -- it is worth the price
of admission for the breath-taking views of the lovely landscapes and
stunning stone cottages and walls. Yorkshire has rarely looked better. I
felt like running out and buying a ticket for the next plane there.



The story's only flaw is that, after the calendar is published, the movie
tries to morph from a sweet comedy to a more serious message movie.
Although this last portion partially works, it just isn't needed and is too
anti-climactic. But it doesn't spoil the fun. CALENDAR GIRLS is a real
treat.



CALENDAR GIRLS runs a little too long at 1:48. It is rated PG-13 for
"nudity, some language and drug-related material" and would be acceptable
for kids around 11 and up.



The film has already opened in Europe. It starts opening in limited release
next month in the United States. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing
at the Camera Cinemas starting on Thursday, January 1, 2004.



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