It's all wrong, by rights we shouldn't even be here. But we are... -Samwise Gamgee

That's how I felt for most of the 114 minute running time of The Women. The film, a remake of a 1939 Joan Crawford classic, really isn't meant for me. It's meant for the women. Ladies, womyn, gals, whatever you call 'em -- this film is for them. One way you can tell is that there aren't any men in the film. Thankfully I know quite a few women. My wife for instance. My momma. My big sister. Assorted sister-in-laws. So that is how we'll proceed. I'll put myself in their shoes. We'll get through this thing.

Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Debra Messing, Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher, Jada Pinkett Smith, Eva Mendes and Candice Bergen headline an all-star cast. Much like the contemporary Sex and the City, this film deals with relationship turmoil, work stress, and the bonds of feminine friendship. The characters fall into the slots that we've seen before. There's the one who works too hard, the one who has terrible luck with men, and the one who doesn't even bother having romantic relationships anymore. Hey, we've all been there. When it's humming along at its best the film is a lighthearted ensemble comedy. It has an interesting villain (Mendes) and a reasonably satisfying ending. I don't think it reaches the level of the more interesting relationship comedies of our time but it's also mostly harmless.

The awkwardness comes from the disconnect. Not having men in the film, but "dealing" with the turmoil caused by them throughout the film is a strange choice. It was probably a less-strange choice in 1939 when the social differences between men and women were far more profound. As it stands now the influence of the menfolk in the film ranges from that of pawns in the women's game all the way to Vishnu, destroyer of worlds. The other issue is that women come off as alternatively amazing, genius, and go-getting -- followed immediately by petty, back-stabbing, and irrational. That's good for keeping an audience entertained but bad when it comes time to root for one character. If you can't relate to the wild mood swings presented then you'll probably find yourself lost at the midway point.

When I told my office-mates (both women) I was writing this review they seemed shocked that I'd even seen the film. I asked them if they were going to see it. The consensus seemed to be "no." So it looks like an average movie is just an average movie, regardless of the gender politics involved. I suppose that's refreshing. Progress!

Grade: C

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