ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 21, 1996 TAG: 9609230117
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B12 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: MOVIE REVIEW
SOURCE: KATHERINE REED STAFF WRITER
It's not easy to warm up to a movie about three bitter women seeking revenge on their ex-husbands for taking up with much younger woman. One dreams of dignity under such circumstances, but let's face it, divorce is ugly most of the time - twice as ugly when the rejection is undeniable and pushes that painful aging button.
However, with uncommon grace and good humor, "The First Wives Club" manages to make revenge look like justice and gets around the petty possibilities of a movie that is first and foremost about getting even.
Certainly, a lot of credit must be given the book this movie is based on (by first novelist Olivia Goldsmith) and the screenplay by Robert Harling (``Steel Magnolias''). But without the abundant comedic talents of the three principals - Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler - and director Hugh Wilson's light touch, this movie could have got downright ugly.
After reuniting at the funeral of an old college classmate, Brenda (Midler), Elise (Hawn) and Annie (Keaton) decide to go out to lunch and catch up. Turns out two of the three have just been dumped by their longtime husbands; Annie is about to be next, but still deluding herself. Worse, the friend whose funeral they have just attended committed suicide a day after learning that her ex was about to wed a "princess" - Heather Locklear (what could be worse?).
When bad turns to terrible, the three women join forces and rent office space to consolidate their fury and find ways to get back at the three men who used to be their husbands - Brenda's appliance tycoon, Morty (Dan Hedaya), Elise's Hollywood creep, Bill (Victor Garber), and Annie's smarmy ad man, Aaron (Stephen Collins).
Luckily, Elise - a film star with a penchant for silicone, collagen injections and vodka - has the funds to bankroll the club's activities. And this movie makes no bones about what seems to be the most common target for torture when things fall apart, and that is the checkbook. These women know how to fight.
Of course, the movie gets just a hair too close to making all men look like jerks. But then it draws back via Hedaya's character, Morty. The biggest surprise of all is that the movie demonstrates how people learn from loss and actually grow from it.
"The First Wives Club" will be a hit because it makes people laugh. It deserves to do well because it overcame the temptation to give in to many low-minded possibilities. The First Wives Club *** A Paramount Pictures release showing at Valley View 6 and Tanglewood Mall Theatre. Rated PG for adult situations. 105 minutes.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Diane Keaton and Stephen Collins play a separated coupleby CNBin "The First Wives Club." color