Film review: ‘THE FABULOUS FOUR’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’

Sometimes a film misfires so inexplicably badly that we start to suspect it must be some sort of elaborate practical joke.  Jocelyn Moorhouse’s latest film, The Fabulous Four creates that suspicion but sadly this is no joke, it was apparently meant to turn out the way it did.

Despite a cast that features one of the best in the business, Susan Sarandon as well as Bette Midler, Megan Mullally and Sheryl Lee Ralph (who apparently stepped in when Sissy Spacek left), this flatlining comedy looks like something that would barely pass muster for a midday movie.

Midler plays the scatty Marilyn who, not long after her husband’s death, is about to re-marry with a lavish wedding at her home in Key West, Florida.  She’s invited two of her best friends Alice (Mullaly) and Kitty (Ralph) but missing from her bridal party is former bestie Lou (Susan Sarandon) who disowned Marilyn when she made off with Lou’s boyfriend decades earlier.  Desperate to reunite their once inseparable quartet, Alice and Kitty, concoct a ludicrous scheme to lure Lou to Florida in the hope she and Marilyn will bury the hatchet.

What should have been a riotous ‘women behaving badly’ romp in the vein of Bridesmaids or at least a touching story of friendship and reconciliation ends up as a meandering mess and one of the least funny comedies in recent memory.  The thuddingly predictable jokes about penises, sex toys and hash cookies as well as a uniquely torturous gag about Lou’s obsession with cats, misfire horribly.

The film is also plagued with random plot threads that go nowhere, painful dialogue and weird inconsistencies such as Kitty’s nephew, who just happens to be the hen’s night stripper, not recognising her at first.

The cast try to make something of the limp, witless story but can’t assert any of their normal presence on this film and seem confused about who their characters are meant to be. Midler is especially disappointing and has none of her usual irreverent spark. It’s excruciating to watch these respected actors trying to wade through this swamp of a film and speaks volumes about the scant opportunities available to older women in Hollywood.

If the plot and the jokes weren’t bad enough, the film has a flat, lifeless look that doesn’t even make scenic Key West look attractive.  There’s also punishingly relentless product placement for a certain social media app throughout the film.  Even what should have been a cheerful celebrity musical cameo from Michael Bolton just seems weird and awkward.  Then there’s the ‘hide under the seat embarrassing’ final scene.

The best that can be said about this film is that it’s not offensive and the characters aren’t obnoxious, it’s just staggeringly lame.

Nick’s rating: *1/2

Genre: Comedy.

Classification: M.

Director(s): Jocelyn Moorehouse.

Release date: 1st Aug 2024.

Running time: 100 mins.

Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.

 

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