Review of Calendar Girls

Introduction

This wonderfully witty, touching and uplifting tale is that of a group of rebel WI members in Rylstone, Yorkshire. When the husband of one of their number succumbed to leukaemia, the women resolved to raise money for research into the disease. And to provide a comfortable settee in the relatives` waiting room at the local hospital.

Julie Walters and Helen Mirren head a cast of some of Britain`s best known mature actresses in this gentle comedy-drama by Nigel Cole from a script by Tim Firth and Juliette Towhidi. Set in the fictional North Yorkshire village of Knapely, the movie introduces us to the ladies of the local WI and in particular Chris (Mirren) and her best friend Annie (Walters). Annie`s husband (a truly touching turn by John Alderton) finds he is suffering from leukaemia. The prognosis unfortunately isn`t favourable and he passes away when the chemotherapy fails.

Chris hatches a plot to raise money to buy a comfy leather sofa for the relatives` waiting room, where she and Annie spent much of John`s last days. A calendar, but unlike any previously published by the WI. No scenes of springtime, no sweeping Yorkshire vistas. Eleven WI ladies in the full bloom of their womanhood - making jam, playing the piano, doing all of those cliched WI activities - only nude.

Organising the calendar is the least of their problems. They have to recruit other ladies, including Jessie (One Foot In The Grave`s Annette Crosbie) and Celia (Celia Imrie). Ruth`s (Penelope Wilton) marriage to carpet sales rep Eddie is fast floundering on the rocks and although she initially has cold feet, she joins in the photography night as Lawrence (Philip Glenister), the hospital porter who had looked after John, takes the pictures.

Getting the calendar printed and permission to use the WI name in connection with such a venture proves an uphill struggle, especially with the opposition of their chairwoman Marie (Geraldine James).

Then the publicity gets out, and a phenomenon is born.

Fantastic performances all round from the ladies of the calendar, and their spouses who include Ciaran Hinds, Graham Crowden and George Costigan. There is an appearance on the "Leno" show in the US, and the ladies are even chatted up by Anthrax.

The only person who isn`t having fun is Jem (John-Paul McLeod), Chris` son who`s worried that his Mum didn`t go ballistic over his p0rn stash, that she mooched a girlie calendar off the local mechanic and worst of all had her kit off when he walked into the kitchen with his mate Gaz. That kid`ll be in therapy for the rest of his life.

Since producing the original calendar, the original ladies of Rylstone WI have raised over half-a-million pounds for leukaemia research. There will be royalties from this movie and they plan a 2004 calendar.

And they did get a nice new sofa.

Video

The lush, Last Of The Summer Wine countryside of North Yorkshire provides a picturesque backdrop for this movie. Presented in the original 2.35:1 of the theatrical release, the movie is sheer class through and through, even if you may want a hanky or two handy during the proceedings. Colours are perfect - bright without being artificially overbearing. Contrast range is excellent with no signs of dirt or other film or digital artefacts.

Audio

The sound is presented in an excellent, subdued Dolby Digital 5.1 mix that adds to the atmosphere of the film without attracting attention.

Features

The film is fully subtitled. There are two short featurettes - "The Naked Truth" which chronicles the original story of the calendar, and "Creating The Calendar" which takes us behind the scenes. Both featurettes are in anamorphic 16:9. There are also a handful of deleted scenes presented 4:3 letterboxed.

Conclusion

Touching. Witty. Life-affirming.