Welcome to the Men's Group

Not sure what we're supposed to take away from the uneven and disjointed dramedy "Welcome to the Men's Group". Guys have problems. They have difficulty talking about them. Okay. Yeah. Right.

I guess what resonated with me here is that man, no matter how f'd up the relationship can get, needs woman.

Or perhaps I'm just speaking for myself and not the group.

We rented this tonight thinking it was a straightforward comedy, but it's so much more than that. Huge props to the makers for exploring a side of maleness that we don't often see in film.

When it started, I was sure it was a remake of a European film; we both agreed it "just wasn't" American. And it's not, at least it's not anything like any American film we've seen before.

A bunch a men meet once a month to talk. "Check in," they call it. Twenty minutes in, I remarked "what a bunch of women." An hour in I realized that my statement was the definition of toxic masculinity!

They start with superficial stuff, nothing special. But as the day wears on weaknesses are exposed and buried feelings come to the surface. We paused it several times to talk about what was going on, and how we saw it from our own gender perspective. It was a great conversation movie, and I think we learned a lot (at least about each other's experiences).

Eye opening, sometimes seriously laugh out loud funny, sad, and brilliant.

I hope more US filmmakers will take note and give us more films like this. As a woman, I found it fascinating, and it really really reminded me why I love men. 😉

Joseph Culp (Son of Robert Culp) stars and Directs, "Welcome to the Men's Group".

An acclaimed all-star cast, including The Goldberg's Stephen Tobolowsky and Golden Globe Nominee Timothy Bottoms (The Last Picture Show), star in Welcome to the Men's Group - open to all from November 9. Once a month on a Sunday, 8 friends (Including an ageless Timothy Bottoms as a sex addict) gather around and forget life for awhile. They reflect on the past month since they last got together and let loose. They took about all there personal stuff that they keep bottled up during the past 4 weeks. They only reveal there inner darker secrets among themselves. New comer to the group (Mackenzie Astin) is reluctant and actually looks scared but soon fits rite in. This month though gets ugly. It begins with one member, the ever delightful and hilarious Stephen Toboloswky. He has a breakdown and strips down and starts running around naked. Other members accuse others of adultry, sleeping with a friends daughter. There is divorces, financial worries. Everything is addressed and felt with among these friends! There are flashbacks as each character reveals his problem of the month, but I feel there done perfectly and not over long. Just hearing these seasoned actors reveal there inner fears and dilemmas is such a joy. The script by Scott Ben-Yashar and Joseph Culp really is cutting edge and is reflective of our times! Reflecting the me too movement! Joseph Culp is the leader and founder of the cult and he to soon unravels with marital problems and a rebel daughter. The highlight and most bold part of this movie is when all the friends are coerced to strip down and let loose. Seeing. All 8 actors parade around completely full frontal was shocking, but after hanging out with these guys for over an hour I could see no other way to go. It's tasteful and hilarious and in no way gratuitous but important to the story. It continues to fall apart when our leads daughter comes home with her friend and walks in on 8 grown man naked. It just gets worse from there were and unexpected revelation of one of the friends having a relationship with the daughter. Wow this is really male bonding on steroids. But so well told and in no way ridiculous or in poor taste. There are so many strong scenes in this you have to watch this movie to truly enjoy. A very bold approach in some scenes as mentioned but oh so wickedly clever and fun this movie is! Will all these scenarios draw these friends apart or just make there bond that much stronger and hold them together. Joseph Culp needs to be recognized. This is one of the most passionate performances I have seen all year! From press reports, I learned this was very inspired by the "Men's Movement" of the past 30 years. Welcome to the Men's Group hails from director Joseph Culp and co-writer Scott Ben-Yashar will be available on VOD this November!

Prodution company: Men's Group Productions Distributor: Dark Star Pictures Cast: Timothy Bottoms, Joseph Culp, Stephen Tobolowsky, David Clennon, Mackenzie Astin, Ali Saam, Terence J. Rotolo, Phil Abrams Director: Joseph Culp Screenwriter-producers: Scott Ben-Yashar, Joseph Culp Director of photography: Monty Rowan Production designer: Spencer Brennan Costume designer: Jane Mannfolk Editor: Dan O'Brien Music: Dan Radlauer

130 minutes