Fat Rose and Squeaky

To see seasoned screen stars plying their craft with such passion and devotion is a delight. Cicely Tyson and Louise Fletcher create an intimate relationship with their acerbic wit and loving words of wisdom for each other. After 50 years of being friends they continue to reveal old secrets and share new experiences that bring them even closer. We're drawn into their lives with relish and smiles. Not the kind of humor that Grumpy Old Men evokes but intelligent humor that is rare these days. A sweet endearing film portraying aspects of the human experience that could very well instill in all of us the value and importance of close enduring friendships.

This movie was...just redundant, void of any intelligence. The acting is somewhat awful. Don't bother watching unless you like wasting your time. I would have gotten more enjoyment out of staring at a wall for a few hours. And the worst thing is it has some powerful actresses yet their performances fall flat. A sad look at getting older and losing your mind. In fact I felt like I was going to lose mine. It was such a shame, the movie had potential, but just a horrible script. It was like a bad community play. I was hoping for more and I got nothing. It left me feeling empty. I love Cicely Tyson, she must be getting desperate for roles. Somebody please give her better roles....

"Fat Rose and Squeaky" is a super-sleeper that hasn't even surfaced on RT's horizon yet. But it's a great film with a powerful mix of fantasy and reality that delights even as it keeps you guessing. The script displays classic quality and Cicely Tyson's performance is nothing short of miraculous: an event of hallucinatory mystery and beauty.

The title characters almost steal the show as a couple of rambunctious, sarcastic troublemakers with a Keystone Kops kinetic and an engrossingly vicious streak.The clash between Bonnie (Louise Fletcher) and her opportunistic granddaughter, Christine, will be heartening and empowering to any senior striving to maintain his/her lifestyle in the face of family pressure to divest and move into custodial care.

Fat Rose & Squeaky are a delight and so is the movie which bears their names. The film has its quirky moments but underlying everything is a rich sense of warmth and humanity. You can watch it and remember lifelong friends. Laugh (or cringe) at the reminders of your own dysfunctional family. But most of all it explores the never simple process of growing old in a very personal way.

The cast is uniformly solid with an especially effective performance by Julie Brown. And what a treat to see Cicely Tyson and Louise Fletcher together and making a return to the screen. It's the kind of film that doesn't get made much anymore and will possibly never enjoy the larger audience it may deserve. But for those lucky enough to find it, Fat Rose and Squeaky will affect you and stay in your mind for awhile.