Movie Review: Book Club (2018), Turning the Rom-Com World Upside Down

Book Club, directed by Bill Holderman, arrived in 2018 as a charming comedy-drama centred around four lifelong friends whose lives are shaken—in the best way possible—after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. Starring Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen, it’s a film that blends humour, vulnerability, and a quiet rebellion against society’s expectations of ageing women. Though marketed as a light-hearted rom-com, Book Club carries sharper edges beneath the laughter, challenging how we view love, desire, and reinvention later in life.

Set primarily in sun-soaked California, the film uses warm palettes and comfortable interiors that mirror the familiarity of long-time friendship. The editing keeps the pace brisk, intertwining each woman's individual storyline while frequently bringing them back to their sacred ritual: the monthly book club. The soundtrack, featuring classics and soft contemporary tunes, subtly underscores their emotional arcs without overpowering scenes.

Holderman’s direction leans heavily on chemistry rather than spectacle. There are no grand set pieces, no loud drama—just the humour and sincerity that comes from women who have lived, lost, and learned how to laugh through it.

At its heart, this is a film about awakening—sexual, emotional, and personal. The provocative novel they read becomes a symbolic catalyst rather than the true source of change. The real transformation stems from each woman confronting what she has quietly accepted:

Diane (Diane Keaton) battles her daughters’ overprotectiveness and the belief that her life should now be “safe”.

Vivian (Jane Fonda) questions whether her fear of vulnerability has cost her a lifelong chance at love.

Sharon (Candice Bergen) re-enters the dating world after decades, wrestling with pride and insecurity.

Carol (Mary Steenburgen) tries to reignite passion in a long, stable marriage that has slipped into routine.

Themes of ageing, autonomy, friendship, and female desire run throughout. The film sidesteps clichés by allowing humour and honesty to exist in the same breath—age is acknowledged, but never apologised for.

The book club itself symbolises a sanctuary of reinvention. The chosen novel is less about erotica and more about confronting suppressed desire, forgotten ambition, and the refusal to become invisible. Wine glasses clinking over confession becomes a symbol of communion—a secular sacrament celebrating lifelong sisterhood.

Each lead brings decades of cinematic history, which deepens their characters beyond the script.

Diane Keaton, known for redefining the romantic lead in films like Annie Hall and Something’s Gotta Give, continues her signature blend of vulnerable strength. Her character’s awkwardness in romance is classic Keaton, both comedic and touching.

Jane Fonda, with two Oscars and a career spanning activism and fitness empires, embodies Vivian with biting humour and tightly armoured elegance. Fonda’s real-life refusal to retire gives Vivian’s journey extra resonance.

Candice Bergen, once Murphy Brown—the razor-sharp TV icon—brings dry, sardonic wit. She plays Sharon with a weary dignity, hinting at heartbreak behind every quip.

Mary Steenburgen, an Oscar winner for Melvin and Howard, lends warmth and subtle melancholy to Carol, portraying a woman fighting to save desire without losing self-respect.

Their cumulative achievements—spanning theatre, television, activism, awards, and cultural influence—elevate Book Club beyond predictable comedy. This is not a cast chasing relevance; it is one reminding Hollywood what longevity looks like.

The friendship is utterly believable—a lifetime of eye-rolls, encouragement, and unspoken loyalty. No one tries to outshine the others; each has her moments of fragility and bravado. Their honesty with one another, even when masked by humour, becomes the true emotional core. Whether they’re mocking each other’s romantic disasters or offering quiet comfort, there is a lived-in rhythm that can’t be faked.

While Book Club didn’t sweep awards season, it made an impact where it mattered: the box office and audience hearts. Grossing over $100 million worldwide on a modest budget, it proved that stories about older women can draw crowds—something Hollywood often doubts. Critics were divided, some calling it fluff, others praising its defiance against ageism. But for many viewers, especially women over 50, it became a rare cinematic mirror.

Originally sparked by Holderman’s own mother’s love for Fifty Shades, the film was written specifically with this dream cast in mind. Some actresses reportedly hesitated, worried it would reduce them to clichés. But once reassured it was about empowerment rather than parody, all four agreed—contingent on one non-negotiable: friendship must be the real love story.

Book Club may wrap itself in wine, wit, and romance, but beneath it lies a bold message: life does not slow after sixty unless you let it. It challenges the notion that female desire expires, that reinvention has an age limit, and that friends cannot be soulmates.

It isn’t a perfect film—but it is an honest one. And sometimes, that’s better.

In a world obsessed with youth, Book Club asks a disarming question: What if the most exciting chapter of your life hasn’t even been written yet?