The Banger Sisters

Finally, not another unrealistic or action packed movie, but rather a movie that captures more of the women's attention. Of course, any male could probably enjoy this film. Although, some men are probably thinking, `Where is the baseball in this movie?' Or `Can't wait for the game.'

`The Banger Sisters' is a film about two close friends who shared a wild and reckless past. As they grew up, one tried to change completely and live a so-called `normal' lifestyle with two kids and a wealthy husband; the other one, unashamed of her past, is still wild. The one who changed so much, Lavina or Vinnie (Susan Sarandon), takes one look at Suzette (Goldie Hawn), for the first time in twenty years and doesn't want anything to do with her. With the help from Suzette, Lavina discovers her `old' self and makes some changes for the better.

The director Bob Dolman's most obvious intention is to pull off a movie that deals with a variety of real life issues ranging from relationships with friends and family to making changes and rediscovering the past. The director does an incredible job of making this movie realistic. First of all, he chose Susan Sarandon to play the part of the mother and house wife. Sarandon is a well known, well liked actress, who really helps bring this role to life. Also not to forget Goldie Hawn, now, who can really say they don't like Goldie? The director chose her to be the `wild' one. Goldie's petite body and sense of humor portrays this image perfectly. Also her 1960s wardrobe and tattoo on her arm prove she is no settled house wife. To help along with the whole `making changes' intention, the director throws in the `perfect' daughter, known as Hannah (Erika Christensen). Susan Sarandon's daughter is `Miss Valedictorian.' The director of the film allows Sarandon to come home to find that her daughter is no princess. Hannah's major performance in this film definitely brought about change in her `mother.'

`The Banger Sisters' is an excellent film. It brings in realistic situations and deals with them in its own way. This movie is recommended to anyone who likes comedies.

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who recognized parts of myself in this movie. It's a real feel good film. You either know someone like or were yourself like either Suzette or Lavinia. Suzette living in her past and never growing up and Lavinia growing up and trying to forget her past. I LOVE Goldie Hawn!!! She's one of those actresses that I really believe is as adorable in real life as she is in movies. Goldies free spirited character and Susan Sarandon's up tight character played off each other so well. Jeffrey Rush was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!! Who knew he was so funny!!!!!!! I'd love to see him in more comedic rolls in the future. Run, don't walk to your nearest video store and rent this one tonight!!!!!!!!!!

In Los Angeles, when the bartender Suzette (Goldie Hawn) is fired from the club where she works, she decides to travel to Phoenix and visit her friend and also former groupie of twenty years ago Vinnie (Susan Sarandon) to borrow some money. While on the road, she runs out of gas and without any money, she accepts to bring the stressed loser writer Harry Plummer (Geoffrey Rush) and in return he would pay for the gasoline. When she meets her old friend, now Mrs. Lavinia Kingsley, she finds a very conservative and traditional housewife, married with the successful lawyer Raymond Kingsley (Robin Thomas) and mother of two complicated teenagers, Hanna and Ginger. Their interaction along a few days improves their lives.

"The Banger Sisters" has a good premise, that some people never change while others repress their feelings, but it is badly executed. The idea of how people change their behavior when raise a family could be deeply developed based on the past of the two "banger sisters", but the way the forgotten and unknown past of Vinnie is disclosed to her family is absolute shallow and without any purpose. I believe Bob Dolman was lazy or afraid to shift to a profound drama, and preferred the easiest and most superficial way to make the confrontation between two exaggerated sides: the one who lives in the past and the other that does not use her experience to improve her relationship with her daughters and husband. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Doidas Demais" ("Too Crazies")

Suzette (Goldie Hawn) and Lavinia (Susan Sarandon) used to be groupies with the Doors, but they've since parted ways: Suzette still acts like a groupie, Lavinia lives a laid-back existence in the suburbs. That is, until Suzette decides to come visit Lavinia. Then, all bets are off. Big time.

If absolutely nothing else, "The Banger Sisters" shows that Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon still have the talent that they always had (of course, neither one ever lost talent). Geoffrey Rush has a great supporting role as uptight Harry Plummer, with some strange plans.

I gotta say, autumn 2002 put an interesting spin on chick flicks, with "The Banger Sisters", "Far from Heaven" and "The Hours".

"The Banger Sisters" tells of two middle-aged women, once best friend rock groupies, who have taken different paths through life. Upon reuniting after 20 years they rediscover each other and, most of all, themselves. A fun and funny chick flick with summa-dis and summa-dat in lieu of a story, this light hearted comedy runs the gamut from silliness to poignancy to middle-aged romance to sentimental stuff with only an occasional speed bump along the way winding up with a message about being true to yourself. An enjoyable three star flick for more mature audiences, especially the distaff. (B)