90s Movie Review - The First Wives Club

Director: Hugh Wilson
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 1996
Starring: Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn, Bette Midler, Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stockard Channing, Elizabeth Berkley, Marcia Gay Harden, Maggie Smith, Bronson Pinchot

Description: Reunited by the death of a college friend, three divorced women seek revenge on the husbands who left them for younger women.

Review: “The First Wives Club” is a revenge comedy, that is mostly fun because of their three leads Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Bette Midler. They play three women who reunite after a college friend suddenly passed away. All three are recently divorced and their husbands left them for a younger woman. Together they seek justice.

The film has many funny moments Not very realistic, but enjoyable. Especially Hawn and Midler are really funny. The film does lack depth and the characters are all a bit superficial because of it.

A fun no-nonsense comedy, about gender struggles and independent women. Nothing spectacular.

Rating: 3/ 5

90s Movie Review - Hocus Pocus

Director: Kenny Ortega
Genre: Family/ Adventure/ Fantasy
Runtime: 96 minutes
Year: 1993
Starring: Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Thora Birch, Omri Katz, Vinessa Shaw, Amanda Shepherd, Larry Bagby

Description: A curious youngster moves to Salem, where he struggles to fit in before awakening a trio of diabolical witches that were executed in the 17^th century.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 39: A MOVIE FROM THE 90S
 
Review: “Hocus Pocus” has been a cult film for years. In the year the film was released, “Hocus Pocus” was not popular at all. Over the years its popularity increased and now there are even plans to make a sequel for Disney+.
After moving to Salem, Max Dennison discovers an abandoned house with his sister Dani and their new friend Allison. Allison tells Max the story of the three Sanderson sisters. She tells him that they were evil witches who died three hundred years earlier, but would return one day is a virgin lit a special candle. Max doesn’t believe any of this and lights the candle, after which the Sanderson sisters return to Salem. With the help of a magical cat, the children must steal the witches’ special book to ensure that they cannot become immortal.
A major reason why “Hocus Pocus” works is Bette Midler. She plays Winniefred, the oldest and the meanest of the three sisters. She does this with such verve that it is actually impossible not to enjoy the performance. She is the one making the film scary for kids. The two sisters, Sarah and Mary, add the funny touch to the film. Some of the visual effects might be a bit outdated, but the humor works and the practical effects are good, so you can easily ignore the aforementioned.
I think “Hocus Pocus” is the perfect family film for this Halloween time. It’s funny and has the right amount of scare.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 81: Beaches

Director: Garry Marshall
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 123 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, Mayim Bialik, Hector Elizondo

Description: A privileged rich debutante (Barbara Hershey) and a cynical struggling entertainer (Bette Midler) share a turbulent, but strong childhood friendship over the years.

Review: Garry Marshall’s adaptation of Iris Rainer Dart’s novel is about the tumultuous but unbreakable friendsip between C.C. Bloom and Hilary Whitney. “Beaches” follows the lives of two women and they are fascinating without having to depend on a man.
We meet C.C. and Hilary at age 11. C.C. is an aspiring singer and performer from the Bronx. Hilary is going to be a lawyer, like her father. The tow meet on a beach in Atlantic City and that’s the start of their friendship. They write each other letters, growing closer every day. When they are adults, they move in together in an apartment in New York.
“Beaches” is a sugar sweet film, sometimes it feels a bit kitschy. Midler saves the film with her humor and sensitivity, she brings it to a more down to earth film. The movie celebrates life and friendship.

Rating: 3/ 5