Guest Author - Sarah Fierro

The Women features a star cast list of actresses who play best friends who will do anything to take care of each other. Meg Ryan, Annette Benning, Debra Messing, and Jada Pinkett Smith perform a modern remake of the 1939 original. Eva Mendes plays the rival of the four friends.

When I saw the cover of the movie on my local Blockbuster shelf, I thought it was simply a twist on the Sex and the City movie. I didn’t realize at the time that it was a remake of an older classic. While the actresses had different ideas of the characters than the originals did, I think as a modern twist it worked out well!

While the story line seems to have a serious tone, The Women is a comedy movie about making the best of your life.

Mary Haines (Ryan), Sylvia Fowler (Benning), Edie Cohen (Messing), Alex Fisher (Smith) are the envy of the people that love them. Mary is the luckiest of the four with a gorgeous and influential husband, her beautiful children, their enormous home, and a bank account never close to empty. After years together, Mary’s picture perfect life begins to collapse because of her husband’s infidelity.

It doesn’t take long for Mary’s friends to find out about the encounter. She has enough help between her overly enthusiastic friends and her own mother’s advice. The women decide to confront Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes), the despicable perfume counter girl who seduced Mary’s husband.

Mary’s issue seems to be something many women could relate to while watching the movie. In the case of an infidelity, there is always a hole to be filled. Emotions can take over but there are still logical decisions to be made about the rest of one’s life. It is interesting to hear the different suggestions her family and friends have for the changes Mary should make. Sometimes the most heartbreaking parts of life can be funny on film.

Aside from possible life lessons or audiences relating to the story, The Women turns out to be the love story of a typical relationship with a fairly common downfall. In the midst of it, lessons are learned about friendships and supporting your family.
Save this movie for a rainy day!