This movie starred a plethora of British actresses including Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie & Penelope Wilton. Released in 2003 this is a British feeling a movie, it was produced on a smidge in the grand scheme of things at $10m and went on to make £93.4m at the box-office worldwide. On the Tri-Critic Sync Challenge this movie is on the outside of the scorecard but it is on there, with a 7 point difference so it matches the widest gap that I will accept for the scoring system. I am chipping in with 76% whilst Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 74% whilst the other IMDb gave it a (personally I think a bit low) score of 6.9/10. Its close enough to make a note. If it’s a target then it hit the red ring on the outside but its on there.
This is the story of the Women’s Institute of Knapely a village over here in good ole Engl-ain-land. The story circles on two members being Annie Clarke and Chris Harper when Annie’s husband is diagnosed with terminal leukaemia, Chris regularly visits them at the hospital. Chris complains about the uncomfortable couch in the waiting room. She see’s a rude calendar in a shop and decides that the WI should make a calendar featuring the members to raise money for a new couch and the hospital as a whole. They then have to convince the women within the WI to pose naked, get the calendar produced and also get permission from the WI to be able to go ahead with calendar. So with this many hurdles to clear will this project ever come around? Let alone keep their friendship together.
This is a lovely movie based on real events and one that many within the UK remember from the news stories released here. Seeing the story unfold in real news updates and then watch the movie which develops the story from the other side. A story and an idea that has been copied multiple times since their initial idea that went on to be a huge success off the screen before they got to celebrate on the big screen as well. I would assume the WI would be benefitting from this story somewhere down the line as well. If they haven’t then they should! This is a funny amusing yet sad and serious story that will entertain and amuse you for an evening so yes, I would recommend giving this movie a bit of a go. You won’t be disappointed.
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