Book Club (12A)

Vivian (Jane Fonda), Diane (Diane Keaton), Sharon (Candice Bergen), and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) are four women in their prime, living out their golden years properly and politely. They cook delicious food, drink good wine, and meet up to discuss literature at their monthly book club. But everything changes when they pass up the usual, critically-acclaimed titles in favour of the famously risqué “Fifty Shades of Grey”. Initially, not everyone is convinced that E. L. James’ erotic romance is the sort of thing that four ‘older’ women should be reading. But once they crack the spine, there’s no going back…

Beyond the typical cringing, giggling and blushing, the novel has an unexpected impact on the women. They begin to look at the romance in their lives – or lack thereof – and realise they want something more. With each other’s support, they set out on a mission to inject a bit of fire into their love lives. Diane and Sharon decide to brave the dating scene, Carol tries to spice up her marriage, and Vivian reunites with blast from the past (Don Johnson). What happens next is a steep learning curve full of awkward and hilarious events. Each of the women learns that, just because they’re in the later chapters of their lives, it doesn’t mean they can’t be the best ones.

The directorial debut from Bill Holderman (producer of A Walk in the Woods), this fun and heart-warming comedy brings together a stronghold of talent, including Academy Award Winners Diane Keaton (Hampstead, Annie Hall), Jane Fonda (Our Souls at Night, Coming Home), and Mary Steenburgen (The Discovery, Melvin and Howard) and Academy Award Nominated Candice Bergen (Rules Don’t Apply, Starting Over).