Calendar Girls Reviews

Earthy Comedy

With a 'winning blend of earthy humour and familiar faces behaving disgracefully', half the fun of this comedy - about members of the Women's Institute stripping for a calendar - is knowing that it's based on true characters. Light entertainment ideal for banishing winter blues

[Highly rated reviewer]

No front bottoms.

When you're in the mood for something that will warm your heart, make you laugh, appeal to emotions that we all share, and generally restore your faith in humankind, 'Calendar Girls' is just the ticket.

'Calendar Girls' is the story of two best friends, Annie and Chris (both expertly cast), who set out to raise money for the local hospital after Annie's husband is stricken with terminal cancer. The snappy and idealistic Chris comes up with the idea of creating a tasteful 'nudie' calendar using the middle-aged, seemingly prude members of their local WI as models.

Without the right casting and screenwriting this story could have ended there, in an overly simplistic and predictable manner. However, 'Calendar Girls' goes so much further, forcing the girls' attention back to the joys and hardships of their personal lives, as well as facing the tough questions and realities about their original goal and what they have done to accomplish it. It plays on the common emotions that we all have experienced: fear, grief, loss, idealism, success, arrogance, failure and ultimately reflection.

Life is painful and hard, a fact that 'Calendar Girls' addresses with grace and tact. Sometimes it's nice to relax with a beautiful movie that will make you feel good.

Top Class

The film is inspirational and at times very funny. This is class and a real true Brit Flick.

Enjoyable throughout

A moving, funny and thoroughly enjoyable film, which was well cast and a joy to watch. The extras, which included the making of the original calendar, was an added bonus. It was an excellent film made for an excellent cause. I can thoroughly recommend it to anyone.

Calendar Girls is a warm film. It is a comedy that also pulls on the heartstrings. Make sure you have a box of tissues near to hand as you will either will be crying with laughter or sorrow. Here lies the beauty of this film. The cinematography is amazing and makes you feel proud of beautiful scenery England has to offer.

Helen Mirren puts in a strong performance as you would expect from such a gifted and experienced actress. The cast list is interesting drawing out all of British TV's oldies. It was great to see Mrs. Meldrew not as grumpy and enjoying the crazy journey the characters undertake.

A beautiful film that is well worth 2 hours of anyone's time.

Loved it !

My parents had told me this film was fantastic... but that's my parents: they have an odd taste in films. So I rented it not expecting the world, just a nice little film. I was pleasantly surprised.

Absolutely hilarious, a really nice story, and just an all-round great film. I was in absolute stitches for most of it, especially at some of the truly classic lines such as "You're nude in the Telegraph dear. Pass the bacon, please."

Highly recommended to anyone, a real feel-good movie !

Good movie

This movie is very hilarious, funny and the characters are very strong.

It is all great fun, but also a marvellous example of what can be done with a bit of imagination tinged with a sense of humour. Only the British can pull off this type of movie - and they really succeeded in this instance.

Good Performances

Calendar Girls is an enjoyable film due to the great performances by the whole cast. The film has trouble with momentum in the final reel and it would have been nice to see the other 'calendar girls' storylines flushed out just a bit more. All criticism aside, the film is entertaining and would make a great gentle Sunday afternoon film.

enjoyable average film

Been meaning to watch this film for ages, after I met the real calendar girls. But it was one of those films I could not get terrably excitied about watching, however when I finally got round to it, as I expected I enjoyed it. It was nothing to go mad over and not worth buying but it will pass a an enjoyable hour and a half of your life. Good performances all round, story line was fair, just lacking in something - can't put my finger on it. It just didn't have the spark it was supposed to have.

Moving portrayal by John Alderton

There are plenty of others reviewing the film so I would like to pick out John Alderton for an excellent performance. It was short but made up for it in quality. Since he was the motive for the Calendar it doesn't seem too bad to give him due credit.