In The Fabulous Four, movie legends Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Megan Mullally reunite for a wedding down in sunny Florida. Australian director Jocelyn Moorhouse brings these comedic titans together for a fun flick that mostly lets their chemistry do the heavy lifting.
The story sees lifelong pals Lou, Marilyn, Alice, and Kitty coming back together after years apart for Marilyn’s nuptials. Lou and Marilyn have a real rocky history after a love triangle way back when it ripped them apart. So getting Lou to show faces a real challenge that wily Alice and Kitty are determined to overcome. The ladies rope Lou down to the palm trees and white sand with a little fib about a prized cat contest.
Sparks start flying fast as this foursome fall back into their familiar rhythms and routines, for better or worse. Sarandon and Midler go toe to toe as the two former friends forcing decades of baggage into the Orlando sun. Things threatened to get hairy, but thankfully these genuine gal pals have just what it takes to laugh through life’s storms.
With its all-star lineup and focus on fun over drama, The Fabulous Four delivers mostly on letting its leading ladies’ magic manifest on screen. Moorhouse keeps things zipping along as the action shifts between heartfelt moments and hijinks by the hotel pool. Fans of these famous faces will find their fix, hoping that where there’s this much fame and flair together, there’s bound to be fabulosity not too far behind.
Famous Foursome
Stepping into the sunny shores of Key West, we have our leading ladies. Bette Midler plays big-hearted Marilyn, always chasing the spotlight. Then there’s Susan Sarandon as serious surgeon Lou, nursing past hurts. Never too far are wise-cracking Alice from Megan Mullally and blunt Kitty from Sheryl Lee Ralph. Together, this foursome makes for quite the crew.
Marilyn definitely hogs center stage. Freshly widowed, she jumps straight into a new romance and wedding plans. It doesn’t seem all that broken up about her late husband, if you ask me. More concerned with her online image, this social butterfly keeps everyone buzzing. Midler embraces the drama, for better or worse.
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Lou seems the sensible sort, head in her work. But underneath beats a heart in need of mending. Only child Lou carries that pain alone. Sarandon breathes empathy into her guarded ways. You root for this lonely soul to let loose.
Alice just lives in the moment. Mullally makes her a joke with snappy one-liners on tap. No care who she offends, only curious what trouble’s next. Always good for a laugh, this loose canon steers clear of reflection.
Then there’s no-nonsense Kitty from Ralph. Her grounded nature offers the others a port in the storm. Wise beyond her years, she sees people clearly. Not afraid to call folks on their stuff, this straight shooter keeps interactions real.
Each gal feels genuine, though not without flaws. Their friendships show layers built over lifetimes. Might be typing, but their bond feels real. These dames demand the spotlight and never fail to deliver. Great fun tagging along, wherever their hijinks may lead.
Faded Friendships and Florida Fun
This movie gathers four gal pals for some sunshine in the Keys. Marilyn’s getting married again and wants bestie Lou there, despite years apart. But a falling out long ago left damaged bonds between these besties.
See, ages ago, Marilyn took up with Lou’s fella. She married him, too, but now he’s passed. Still, Lou never could forgive her actions. So when the invite comes, no way is serious Lou going to that wedding!
That’s where Alice and Kitty come in. They hatch a harebrained scheme to get Lou to Florida. A bogus story about winning a special cat lures Lou down south. But upon arrival, the jig is up. Lou realizes she’s been tricked by her so-called friends into seeing Marilyn.
Sparks predictably fly between the estranged besties. Old wounds get reopened as they butt heads. Marilyn believes time heals all, while Lou’s still not over the betrayal. Their bickering gives the plot some dramatic flair, though not much depth.
This premise teases complex feelings to explore. But the screenplay keeps things surface-level. We don’t learn what really ended the friendship or see the conflict evolve. The plot also gets distracted by plotting romantic chances for Lou to forget her past.
Mishaps and mistaken identities provide some funny fish-out-of-water moments. But they drain authenticity as the story veers toward zaniness. The characters actions grow nonsensical at times too.
Overall, this storyline had potential for heart. But it gets lost amid silly antics that weaken stakes. While a fun getaway for the cast, their talents outshine material that only scrapes the plot’s potential. With sharper focus on the friendship drama, this story could have been fabulous.
Rekindled Bonds and Reflecting on Time
This movie touches on meaningful themes but doesn’t wholly satisfy. Friendship, forgiveness, and aging all deserve a deeper look yet feel a bit superficial here.
Marilyn wants Lou at her wedding to reconnect, though we don’t fully understand why their bond split. And Lou refuses to forgive the boyfriend theft from years ago. But was it really just that? Their backstory lacks depth to make this conflict land.
Then again, Alice and Kitty’s longtime friendship with both seems steadier. They try nudging Lou and Marilyn’s relationship to brighter days. But really, shouldn’t Marilyn and Lou address this themselves with care, not tricks? A heartfelt chat could’ve gone further than briefly brushing issues aside.
As for aging, comments hint these women are near retirement. But they act more like restless forty-somethings than seventy-somethings considering settling in to later years. Surgeries, rock stardom, and cannabis don’t exactly square with depicting life’s later chapters realistically either.
Some moments show the passage of time, though. Like when Lou hesitates if her career may now end or a new romance could start. And Marilyn clearly struggles accepting her husband’s death, distracting herself on social media instead of facing loneliness. So themes are there, just not always truthfully handled.
This story had potential for deeper insights by handling friendship’s complexities, forgiveness’s importance, or reflections on time passed more authentically. But as is, themes only lightly graze the surface without sticking firm landings. The fabulous four deserved material, doing them greater justice.
Light Touches and Lively Performances
The director’s influence can make or break a film. In The Fabulous Four, Jocelyn Moorhouse takes a deft approach, allowing space for her stars to shine.
Moorhouse elicits lively performances from the seasoned cast. Bette Midler owns every scene as the needy yet charming Marilyn. Susan Sarandon grounds the film with a vulnerable take on Lou. Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph have a ball bouncing off each other—their comedic timing is impeccable.
Under Moorhouse’s light touch, the actresses are free to drive each scene rather than merely hit marks. This creates a loose, lively energy despite some thin material. Their natural rapport comes to the fore, enhancing what bonds these lifelong friends.
Visually, Moorhouse opts for simplicity, focusing attention on the cast. Scenes feel fresh, though not flashy. Key West’s beauty serves as a pleasant backdrop, bathed in bright sunlight. Cinematographer Roberto Schaefer captures the coast in a way that teases longings for sun and sand.
Music plays a supportive role. Cover songs bookend the film on an upbeat note, suiting the theme of rekindled connections. Instrumentals punctuate comedy without intruding. The score is there but not there—a sign the director lets the story unfold without heavy orchestration.
Overall, Moorhouse demonstrates a knack for eliciting nuanced work from actors without heavy direction. The visuals are stunning in their lack of pretension. And music enhances rather than dominates. In letting the story’s natural rhythms lead, Moorhouse ensures The Fabulous Four remains a light, lively romp anchored by its excellent cast.
Smiles and Substance
The Fabulous Four aims to blend laughs and heartwarming moments. In some ways, this balance succeeds, thanks largely to its stellar cast. However, the film’s humor lacks cohesion at times.
When the movie focuses on the interplay between Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, laughs emerge naturally. Their impeccable comedic timing and real-life rapport shine through. Whether riffing on social media or reminiscing on past escapades, the wit feels unforced.
Mullally and Ralph especially find a groove, exchanging quips that feel lively rather than labored. Some gags fall flat, like hijinks around cannabis edibles. But mostly, letting these talents simply play off one another provides chuckles.
Where the film falls short is relying on gimmicks rather than nuanced character work. Midler’s TikTok obsession gets old fast. I wished to know these women beyond superficial traits. More subtle moments reveal dramatic potential, like when Sean’s character opens up.
Despite flaws, the movie ultimately resonates due to its talented leads. They imbue emotionally complex backstories rarely voiced directly. Sarandon superbly conveys hurt over lost love and friendship. Her blossoming romance feels genuine.
Midler also transcends the script, transforming from frivolous to vulnerable. Her crowning moment singing redeems annoying tics. Subtext shines through, with healing hinted at through rekindled bonds.
While not laugh-out-loud hilarious, these scenes strike a chord. Familiar themes of forgiveness and second chances touch the heart. Ultimately, the humor here is most effective when serving emotion rather than empty gags. When allowing its stars to shine through nuance over gimmicks, The Fabulous Four finds its soul.
Four Friends, Mixed Results
The Fabulous Four brings together an iconic foursome, but their reunion yields hit-and-miss comedy. The film’s strengths lie clearly in its cast, as Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph shine with their comedic timing and lived-in rapport. Their performances at times elevate material struggling for laughs.
While the premise of long-lost friends reconnecting in Key West promises drama and humor in equal measure, the movie delivers more on the latter through its stars than the script. The screenplay falls back on predictable hijinks and broad character types. Deeper exploration of the women’s backstories and friendship’s past hurt feels like missed potential.
However, glimmers emerge when focusing less on gags. Sarandon stands out, conveying her character’s emotional wounds. Midler also transcends in more touching solo moments. Overall humor works best serving these actresses rather than relying on tired tropes.
Qualms with inconsistent laughs and character development aside, this reviewer was still entertained. The Fabulous Four ultimately remains an enjoyable enough diversion thanks to its phenomenal leads. While not achieving its full promise, their undeniable chemistry and talents shine through flick’s flaws. For fans of this cast especially, it provides some lighthearted fun, if not cinematic brilliance. In the end, the ladies themselves prove the most fabulous part.
So in conclusion, while this story of reunited friends stumbles sometimes chasing laughs, The Fabulous Four remains worth the watch for any fan of its big-name stars. The comedic gems it does strike feel most when allowing these women’s talents to simply play off one another.
The Review
The Fabulous Four
In closing, while The Fabulous Four doesn't fully realize its potential, it remains an enjoyable film, chiefly due to the phenomenal talents of its stars. The chemistry between Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph shines through, elevating the material and bringing warmth and humor to their beloved characters. For fans of these actresses especially, the movie delivers some lighthearted fun, though it also shows that a stronger script could have better served these gifted performers.
PROS
- The phenomenal cast of Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph
- Actresses have great comedic timing and natural rapport with each other.
- Humor emerges when focusing on the interactions between the characters.
- Heartfelt moments between characters help bring warmth.
- Scenes set in Key West have lovely visuals.
CONS
- The script relies too heavily on predictable tropes and gags.
- Characters lack depth, and motivation is unclear.
- The plot has inconsistencies and fails to explore character backstories.
- Humor feels forced in many scenes.
- Misses opportunities for drama between characters
