As a long-time admirer of Bette Midler and her fellow divas in “The First Wives Club,” I must say that this movie is a true gem in the world of comedy and female empowerment. The way these women portray the struggles, triumphs, and camaraderie of three women bound by their ex-husbands’ deceit is nothing short of remarkable.
Among the absolute best movies about female friendships, The First Wives Club is undoubtedly one to watch. The 1996 Hugh Wilson comedy stars Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton and Bette Midler as three old friends who reconnect in their forties when their friend from college dies. They soon come to realize that they’re all facing similar situations, as each of their husbands has left them for a younger woman. This leads them to work together to exact revenge, though their efforts evolve into something more meaningful. And all the while, amidst some truly heartfelt and thoughtful scenes, hilarity ensues.
From the get-go, you’d expect nothing less than a rollercoaster of laughter when legends like these grace our screens in The First Wives Club. And boy, did they deliver! Let’s dive into some of the most hilarious lines and scenes that left us in stitches. Enjoy the ride!
“You were with that man again, weren’t you?”
From the start, it’s obvious that Chris, Annie’s daughter, harbors a strong dislike for her father. She refers to him as “that man” with noticeable contempt once she discovers her mother had spent the night with him.
“You’re forty-five. You know, if I give you one more face ift, you’re gonna be able to blink your lips!”
In today’s setting, Elise encounters her plastic surgeon, portrayed by Rob Reiner, who shows significant hesitance towards further alterations on her facial features.
“Fill ’em up!”
It’s quite amusing, and a bit sad, to observe Elise’s unyielding efforts to preserve her youthful image as a Hollywood actress, understanding that the roles suitable for her are dwindling. However, it’s hard not to chuckle at Goldie Hawn’s portrayal of this scene. She disregards her plastic surgeon’s objections and insists on getting her lips augmented.
“You are married. You have a daughter. You’re very happy. You don’t need self-esteem.”
In my gaming world, I find myself met with opposition both from those above and below me in the family hierarchy. My attempts to reconcile with Aaron are scorned by my daughter, while my efforts to boost Annie’s self-worth are met with skepticism by her mother, played by Eileen Heckart. She seems to think that “self esteem” is something out of Annie’s reach.
“And your lips…”
Despite the captivating portrayal in “First Wives Club,” a momentary pause is necessary to acknowledge Maggie Smith as an unacknowledged star in this group. Although Gunilla takes a more prominent role in the plot of the First Wives Club towards the end of the movie, we first encounter her at Cynthia’s funeral, where she swiftly notices Elise’s recently augmented lips.
The Way Brenda Automatically Puckers Her Lips While Staring At Elise’s Mouth
Without a doubt, “The First Wives Club” stands out as one of Bette Midler’s finest films. Her on-screen chemistry with Goldie Hawn’s character, Elise, is particularly noteworthy. This is evident in their early scene together, where Bette’s character, unable to resist, leans towards her old friend for a closer look and subtly mirrors Elise’s puckered lips by puckering her own.
“He starts working out. He grows a mustache. He gets an earring. I said, ‘Morty, Morty, what are you, a pirate? What’s next, a parrot?'”
Despite Brenda appearing distressed when discussing the breakdown of her marriage due to Morty’s mid-life crisis, there’s an amusing side to how she narrates his gradual transformation into a pirate.
When We Meet Shelly (And She’s The Worst)
In a flawless entrance, Sarah Jessica Parker takes center stage, seemingly vying for the most dislikable character title, or at least sharing it with Annie’s therapist – it’s hard to tell. The animosity between Shelly and Brenda becomes palpable from the start, and while we’re not supposed to like Shelly, Sarah Jessica Parker’s performance in every scene is nothing short of remarkable.
“Elise Eliot, The Crypt Keeper… wow.”
As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this: Brett Arthurian, the director, doesn’t seem to have picked up tact in film school, as he bluntly compares the character he wants me to play, Elise, to the creepy Crypt Keeper. To make matters worse, I thought I was being considered for his daughter’s role.
“I love you.” “I want a divorce.”
It’s quite evident from this scene that Aaron (Stephen Collins) isn’t very kind. After an evening of dining and dancing together, they return to Aaron’s hotel room, where one might expect a continuation of their romantic connection. However, Annie seems unaware that this is not the beginning of something new but rather the end, as Aaron unexpectedly expresses his desire for a divorce. It appears that he thought a final date would be an appropriate prelude to such a revelation.
“Annie, let’s use this. He’s found someone new. You’re free. Closure!”
In the unbelievable twist that felt like it was ripped straight from a movie script, Dr. Rosen’s betrayal went beyond shattering my trust when I discovered their romantic involvement – right after Aaron announced his intent to divorce. Incredulously, Marcia Gay Harden’s character, as if adding salt to the wound, attempted to incorporate this horrific ordeal into my therapeutic sessions, seemingly for some bizarre reason…
“I’m SORRY!”
Of course, learning that her husband was secretly dating her therapist leaves Annie utterly shocked. Given the situation, it’s understandable that she would react this way, as it’s beyond inappropriate. However, Diane Keaton adds a humorous touch to the scene by shouting out an apologetic “I’m sorry!” towards her soon-to-be ex-husband and his new companion.
“And I starched them … well, I mean, I supervised.”
Naturally, Annie needs to make it clear to her friends exactly how she contributed to taking care of Aaron’s shorts during their marriage. Although she didn’t personally iron Aaron’s laundry, she was in charge and oversaw the process instead.
When The First Wives Club Comes To Order
A memorable scene unfolds as Elise, Annie, and Brenda decide to unite and take action against their former partners, culminating in a celebratory toast with champagne. Interestingly, Annie’s champagne flute holds their once-worn wedding bands, which leaves me questioning her intention of drinking from it. However, the symbolism behind the gesture seems to be the significant part.
“GOD Bless you!”
As soon as Elise, Annie, and Brenda step into the bar where they’re searching for Annie’s daughter, Elise gets noticed by a woman (Lea DeLaria) who’s obviously a big fan and can’t hide her admiration for Elise’s looks. This encounter brings immense joy and delight to Elise.
“Mom, you know you’re in a gay bar?”
In a casual setting, Chris found himself engaging in conversation with an attractive lady at a bar, oblivious to the moment when her mother unexpectedly appeared. It’s clear that Annie understands she’s in a gay establishment and is supportive, which is commendable. However, she appears unaware of how her sudden arrival and interrupting Chris could potentially embarrass him quite significantly. An amusing detail here is that Brenda seems to be aware of the awkwardness but can’t seem to escape quickly enough.
“It’s the ’90s, Bill. Downsize.”
Elise shows an extraordinary eagerness when it comes to dividing their marital belongings, ordering the movers at one point to remove a desk from under Bill in a literal sense. Considering the situation, her intensity might not be unwarranted. Additionally, her remark about him needing to “reduce” his possessions as she departs seems justifiable, especially after he implies that her actions are hormonal.
“I’m Monique! And you can be my mom!”
Bill’s girlfriend, Phoebe (Elizabeth Berkley), appears to deeply admire Elise and doesn’t seem to grasp that her adoration isn’t reciprocated when they meet. In fact, upon disclosing that she will portray Monique – the role Elise was aiming for – in Brett’s upcoming film, she excitedly proposes that Elise take on the role of her mother instead.
“ForK.”
In an effort to aid The First Wives Club, Gunilla joins in on a scheme to influence Shelly. This involves attending a lavish lunch where Shelly chats incessantly (even going as far as criticizing Brenda at one point), and Gunilla’s attempts to hide her contempt for Shelly are evident in the terse manner she instructs the server to place Shelly’s salad fork.
“That chair is agony!”
Bronson Pinchot portrays Duarto, a friend of Brenda’s who is also a decorator. He offers to assist in redecorating Shelly and Morty’s apartment as part of a revenge scheme. Upon arriving at their residence, he swiftly labels Morty’s chair as “uncomfortable.
When The Trio Escapes Morty And Shelly’s Apartment On The Window-Washing Scaffold
In this film, The First Wives Club, the comedic skills of its principal actresses are showcased brilliantly, but nowhere is this more apparent than in a particular scene where Elise, Annie, and Brenda must employ a window-washing scaffold to surreptitiously exit Shelly and Morty’s apartment, only to narrowly avoid a fatal fall. The interplay of Annie’s fear, Brenda’s resolve to manage the predicament, and Elise’s amusement creates an unending stream of laughter.
“Elise, you look great!”
As the threesome flee Shelly and Morty’s apartment, they wind up peering into a nearby couple’s window. Luckily for Elise, the startled pair soon recover, complimenting her appearance. This flattery delights Elise, while Brenda visibly squirms.
“She has impeccable taste… for an actress.”
As a fervent admirer, let me rephrase Maggie Smith’s humorous remark: When Elise raises the bid to boost the price, Gunilla uses every trick in her arsenal to coax Shelly into bidding even more. To achieve this goal, she doesn’t hesitate to take a playful jab at actors, including Shelly!
“With my money you bought it. I bought me a gift!”
It appears Shelly doesn’t grasp why Morty is so distressed about the large sum of money – at least two hundred thousand dollars, if not more – she splurged at the auction. To her, it was just gifts! However, since the money was originally Morty’s, technically speaking, he ended up purchasing a Lamborghini worth $300k and other items with his own funds.
“I drink because I’m a sensitive and highly strung person.” “No, that’s why your co-stars drink!”
It’s disheartening to witness the trio engage in a heated dispute when things aren’t going smoothly for them. The insults they hurl at each other are severe, especially when Brenda and Elise clash directly and bring out their strongest tactics. For instance, Elise asserts that she drinks due to her sensitivity and tension, but Brenda promptly counters this by saying those very traits of hers are the reason her colleagues drink.
“You think just because I’m a movie star, I don’t have feelings? Well, you’re wrong. I’m an actress. I have all of them!”
It’s important to remember that Elise isn’t any less emotional just because she’s a well-known actress. In fact, given her profession, it’s safe to say that she understands and experiences a wide range of emotions deeply.
“Bill is so wrong, you are not Satan.”
Yet again, Phoebe’s obliviousness is amusingly charming and somewhat surprising, as we learn she’s younger than most people assume. Moreover, her belief that she’s offering a compliment when she tells Elise that Bill is mistaken in calling her Satan is quite intriguing.
“Fifty cents?”
In terms of dramatic acting, Victor Garber truly shines; yet, he’s equally skilled at delivering understated yet hilarious comedic performances in select roles. For instance, his quip in “Legally Blonde” and his portrayal in “Sleepless in Seattle” are absolute favorites of mine. His character in this movie, Bill, is masterfully played as a thoroughly unlikable fellow, making it all the more gratifying to watch when he receives his half of their marital assets – a mere fifty cents. Despite her generosity, Elise decides to give him the full dollar for the worth of their high-end possessions.
“Oh, Daddy, I’m a lesbian. A big one.”
Previously in the film, Chris pleads with her mother not to disclose her sexual orientation as she being gay to her father, preferring to unveil this secret at an opportune moment to “that man.” She locates that moment towards the end of the movie when Aaron is nervously preparing to enter and meet with the First Wives Club to learn about the upcoming events.
The You Don’t Own Me Finale
Initially in the film, Annie confessed her fear of singing “You Don’t Own Me” alongside her companions. However, by the end of the movie, during a memorable climax, she overcame that fear and powerfully sang the song both solo and with her friends, resulting in an outstanding performance.
“Gunilla was a first, second, third and fourth wife, which accounted for her very comfortable surroundings.”
From Annie’s account, it appears that Gunilla has had multiple marriages, which likely funds the luxurious way of life she presents.
“Honey, she’s a quilt.”
At the beginning of the film, Duarto goes with Brenda to Cynthia’s funeral. Upon seeing Elise, Duarto asks if Elise has ever altered her facial appearance in any way. Brenda’s answer suggests that a simple “alteration” wouldn’t do justice to the changes made.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-12-06 19:37