Title: Book Club: The Next Chapter
MPA Rating: PG-13
Director: Bill Holderman
Starring: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen
Runtime: 1 hr 47 mins

What It Is: The girls are back! Diane (Keaton), Vivian (Fonda), Sharon (Bergen) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen) are back and out of quarantine. Vivian is now engaged to her beau Arthur (Don Johnson) and to celebrate the group are traveling to Italy! All this to give Vivian a pseudo Bachelorette party. When something happens to them right off the bat you’d think that would’ve put them off…but nah…they’re here for a good time not a long time (especially not at their age).

What We Think: These ladies have incredibly fun chemistry. That is the hallmark of this series. Outside of that there isn’t much you can say here. It’s a comedy with our sexagenarian foursome. As you watch this it becomes clear that this and 80 for Brady are indistinguishable save for a few slight plot differences. These difference don’t change the overall experience enough to warrant this films existence. This is about about the should or even the why but the what. What is this film? It exist to give its cast a payday, but who was the film made for? Bill Holderman’s only other directing credit is the first Book Club film. This really is so middle of the road and forgettable.

Our Grade: C-, You come to this film for the banter but there’s nothing to stay for. I don’t recommend this film to everyone but, like, if you know what you’re getting into and are fine with what this is then throwing away 107 minutes isn’t the worst thing. I cannot say with any certainty that anyone will TRULY enjoy this. I mean if you have Peacock there are worse things to ignore while you make dinner. Maybe try this out.