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The Women Reviewed by Seema Shastri The Women. Directed by a woman, Diane English and has an all star cast of only women. First the good, Annette Bening shines in the film as one of the most relatable characters. She is a woman in her 40’s striving to make her career and personal life work with dignity, when the very industry she works in, as an editor of a woman’s magazine, seems to contradict this. Debra Messing plays an artist/mother of at least three or four…or more kids, point is that her home life is mighty hectic and she’s expecting yet again, this time hoping for a boy. She too is a joy to watch on screen as the mom who is happy to be a mom. Now the bad, Jada Pinkett Smith plays a lesbian author who has been procrastinating on her follow up book. That’s about all we really know about her, oh and that she likes to date models. And finally, the main character and unfortunately the least likable personality is played by Meg Ryan; centering the film around her was a big mistake. The plot surrounds the horrifying news that Ryan’s husband has been having an affair with a perfume girl at Saks Fifth Avenue played dutifully by Eva Mendes. The news has been spreading like wildfire in the NYC’s social circles and Ryan is the last to know. When she finds out, everyone has an idea of how she should handle the situation, including her mother played by Candice Bergen. Bergen believes all men at some point have a tendency to stray, and instead of confronting him, Bergen suggests that Ryan and her daughter go out of town for a few weeks to make him miss her. She does leave, he does miss her but he also continues to cheat. Ryan, in the end kicks her cheating husband out and sadness ensues. At some point in the second act Debra Messing and Jada Pinkett Smith virtually disappear from the film only to reappear in the final scenes when Messing is about to give birth. It is here everyone reconciles and we are introduced to the only male actor in the film, a new born baby boy. I sat within a packed audience and noted that there were only two laugh-out-loud moments, both delivered by Debra Messing. Aside from that, there were a few short giggles. The film is a remake of the old 1930’s version in which the villain was gossip and women were their own worst enemy. Don’t expect mind numbing laughter or a feminist agenda. Have a cocktail, bring some chocolates and gather up some friends to see The Women. |