The Fabulous Four, 2024.
Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse.
Starring Susan Sarandon, Bette Midler, Megan Mullally, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Timothy V. Murphy, Bruce Greenwood, Michael Bolton, Renika Williams, Sophie von Haselberg, Deja Dee, Brandee Evans, Kadan Well Bennett, David Goren, Kaden Taylor, Brandee Evans, and Abigail Dolan.
SYNOPSIS:
It tells the story of two friends who travel to be bridesmaids in a surprise wedding of their college girlfriend.
Another entry into the irritating subgenre of screwball comedies featuring veteran actresses making outrageous fools of themselves, The Fabulous Four is a dismal addition to that depressing catalog. Directed by Jocelyn Moorhouse, the firm incorporates everything from sex toys to TikTok into a story that might believe it is transgressive or showcasing that the elderly can keep up with younger folks, but mostly, it’s another example of how the characters themselves become the jokes. There is almost nothing sincere here; it’s a grab bag of “man, aren’t these old ladies crazy and kooky and funny” humor, disinterested in the characters and what any of this is supposed to say about their lives. Credit to the ensemble for going for it, but it’s hard to imagine anyone coming away feeling anything but embarrassment for all involved.
The script from Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly traffics in the usual clichés: Marilyn and Lou (Suzan Sarandon and Brett Midler, with the latter seemingly far too engaged in this horrendously unfunny material) are two of the titular fabulous four besties, and had a falling out over a guy, Hurt, Lou cut ties with Marilyn (all four of them were college roommates but these two go further back than that) and retreated into her professional life, becoming a surgeon. Meanwhile, Marilyn had a happily ever after marriage with that man until he died, becoming lonely upon his death and, subsequently, addicted to TikTok. There is a funny idea for a film if it were also treated with respect and pathos, but it is probably clear now that this is not that movie.
Alice and Kitty (Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph) have decided that it’s time Marilyn and Lou reconcile before it’s too late, orchestrating a reunion of sorts since the former is about to remarry. Part of this involves tricking the highly educated and no-nonsense Lou into believing that she has won a raffle for a special six-toed cat that she has to come to the Florida Keys to collect. It is a setup that makes no sense, as it cannot decide if this is a smart character or a dumb one. However, there is one constant here: this whole movie is dumb.
Somewhat surprisingly, Marilyn and Lou are quick to make amends. That is until the movie introduces Bruce Greenwood’s bar owner, Ted, who unintentionally threatens to drive another wedge between the one-time best friends. Yes, Marilyn is already engaged. This movie has an absurd plot reveal up its sleeve. To be fair, there are multiple dumbfounding, contrived character reveals. Meanwhile, Alice is the perpetually horny member of the friend group, whereas Kitty, a botanist, is trying to escape her overbearing Christian daughter, who claims she is going to hell.
The themes of forgiveness, acceptance, and equality are poorly implemented but respectable nonetheless, with 97% of it also wrapped up in grating humor. The Fabulous Four is a disaster, but at least the stars seem to be having fun. If any of this had been treated with a degree of sincerity and attempted to make the humor feel naturalistic and real, there could have been something worthwhile here. It’s an insult for the film to refer to itself as fabulous and the only laugh to be found.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ / Movie: ★ ★
Robert Kojder is a member of the Chicago Film Critics Association and the Critics Choice Association. He is also the Flickering Myth Reviews Editor. Check here for new reviews, follow my Twitter or Letterboxd, or email me at MetalGearSolid719@gmail.com
