Calendar Girls [PG]

When the husband of her oldest friend passes away from leukaemia, Chris decides to raise some money to aid the general hospital by bringing some needed spice to the Women’s Institute annual calendar. Not wanting to divorce themselves from the traditional pictures, twelve lovely ladies from the Women’s Institute pose behind baked goods, flower arrangements, books, and musical instruments… completely nude. The women’s calendar is an instant success, but it soon escalates into much more than the girls expected, bringing a few handfuls of trouble. 

WHAT A LOVELY FILM! It’s charming, vibrant, witty, heartfelt, and “practically perfect in every way”. I have always said that British comedies are by far the more brilliant and this is another classic example of why. 

When the husband of her oldest friend passes away from leukaemia, Chris decides to raise some money to aid the general hospital by bringing some needed spice to the Women’s Institute annual calendar. Not wanting to divorce themselves from the traditional pictures, twelve lovely ladies from the Women’s Institute pose behind baked goods, flower arrangements, books, and musical instruments… completely nude. The women’s calendar is an instant success, but it soon escalates into much more than the girls expected, bringing a few handfuls of trouble along with it. 

The Brits can really do right, can’t they? I mean, seriously, the perfect use of tragedy as a catalyst for something miraculous and amazing is something that they do so well and should really be applauded for. Like Blow Dry, Calendar Girls used the drama and tragedy of a character’s passing to bring about something that was wonderfully genuine, noble, and funny. This is an amazing, amazing story people, and you’re really missing out if you don’t run down to your local Blockbuster right now and grab yourself a copy. It’s warm, noble, heartfelt, and just lovely. 

Special rounds of applauds need to go to Helen Mirren and Julie Walters who headed the dazzling team of mature delights. Their performances were absolutely admirable. Warm, funny, quick-witted, and delightfully down to earth. I admire you ladies, I really do. 

Starring Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, John Alderton, Philip Glenister, Celia Imrie, Geraldine James, Penelope Wilton, George Costigan, Ciaran Hinds, Georgie Glen, Angela Curran, Rosalind March, Lesley Staples, Jay Leno, and Angus Barnett, Calendar Girls was a beautiful comedy that was filled with ambition, faux nudity, drama, and plenty of sharp-witted comedy. It really was a lovely, LOVELY film!