Happy Friday everyone! I’m a bit late to the TMP party but I love this week’s topic that I still want to participate. The Thursday Movie Picks blogathon was spearheaded by Wandering Through the Shelves Blog.
The rules are simple simple: Each week there is a topic for you to create a list of three movies. Your picks can either be favourites/best, worst, hidden gems, or if you’re up to it one of each. This Thursday’s theme is… GIRLS’ TRIP.
For this topic, the ones I pick isn’t necessarily about girls taking a trip together, but more about female friendships. Honestly I actually haven’t seen too many of movies about women taking a trip together, though I know there are a bunch of them. So I picked three that really resonated with me even from decades ago.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
Five years after the events of Mamma Mia!, Sophie prepares for the grand reopening of the Hotel Bella Donna as she learns more about her mother’s past.
I have to admit I have a soft spot for these Mamma Mia! movies. I almost didn’t even want to see it, but when I visited my best friend in San Diego, she had this DVD and we decided to watch it together. Well, I ended up really enjoying it! I like the second movie even more as it traced back Donna’s past and how the relationships she forged in the past affects her, as well as her daughter Sophie’s, present. The three of them went on a trip to the Greek island and of course Donna ended up staying and built a hotel there. I love how in the sequel you see their friendship is still as strong as ever, and passed through generations.
I adore Lily James as young Donna (and this girl could sing!) and the other two actresses who played her two besties Rosie (Alexa Davies) and Tanya (Jessica Keenan Wynn). It helps a ton if you enjoy ABBA’s songs (which I do), and it also shows the friendships of Donna’s men (aka Sophie’s three dads) which is quite amusing also. Of course the island scenery (filmed in Croatia) is to die for!
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
Based on Terry McMillan’s novel, this film follows four very different African-American women and their relationships with the male gender.
I can’t remember when exactly I saw this movie but I still remember it fondly to this day. Even specific scenes still feels fresh in my mind, I mean who can forget Angela Bassett burning her husband’s car?
Based on Terry McMillan’s best-selling novel, it has such an amazing cast, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston, that work amazingly together. I’m actually a fan of Whitney as an actress, and she seems more comfortable here than in The Bodyguard.
As these women go through struggles in men, careers, and families that took them to different directions, it’s the bond and friendship that sustain them. Even the song Count On Me became an anthem for strong friendships… “When you are weak, I will be strong…Helping you to carry on.”
Thelma & Louise (1991)
Two best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two girls escape for the crimes they committed.
This movie has become an icon and perhaps still one of the most famous roles Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon, and likely the most celebrated. I often forget it’s directed by Ridley Scott, where he’s nominated for Best Director at the Oscars.
The story of two friends who initially embarked on an adventure and ended up being on the run from police after an unexpected incident is certainly juicy. But it also features authentic and loyal friendship, as tragic and misguided they may be. I thought the ‘morning after’ scene when they both realized Thelma had been swindled by the seductive JD (still one of Brad Pitt‘s most memorable roles) was priceless! Many men think this movie is anti-men, well obviously that speaks more about themselves than about the filmmakers.
What do you think of my picks? Have you seen any of them?
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FLIXCHATTER FILM BLOG 
Thelma & Louise really set a standard for girl road movies and while it’s imperfect…that ending…it has a pair of terrific performances driving it and Brad Pitt sure does make an impression.
I liked Waiting to Exhale well enough the one time I watched it but that was enough. However I will say that Angela Bassett has really been wasted by Hollywood.
I am not a fan of either of the Mamma Mia movies. The first committed a major sin of musicals for me. Most of the cast couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket!! If I watch a musical I want to see people who can actually sing!! I don’t expect Judy Garland/Barbra Streisand level talent from all but they should at least be able not to embarrass themselves. I don’t want to pay to see some performer challenge themselves if they don’t have the skill to do that.
I thought of T&L first off but figured it would be very popular, which it has been, so I moved on to others. However my second two choices were influenced by that film in some way I’m sure.
Orchestra Wives (1942)-Small town girl Connie Ward (Ann Rutherford) is swept off her feet by Bill Abbott (George Montgomery), a trumpet player in Gene Morrison’s swing band (actually Glenn Miller and his entire orchestra). She hits the road with the band but soon finds herself at odds with the cattiness and petty jealousies of the other band members’ wives also accompanying their husbands on the cross-country train tour. Add in her jealousy at the harmless flirtation between Bill and Jaynie (Lynn Bari), the band’s female vocalist and it’s only a matter of time before things blow between all concerned. A more serious storyline and a lot of glorious Glenn Miller music distinguish this from other 40’s musicals.
Leaving Normal (1992)-Waitress Darly (Christine Lahti) unhappy with her lot decides to drive to Alaska to try and come to terms with her muddled past. In her travels she meets Marianne (Meg Tilly) who is running away from an abusive relationship. As they hit the road north they forge a bond over shared hardships and encounter some eccentric characters along the way.
Bonneville (2006)-Newly widowed Arvilla Holden (Jessica Lange) has a problem. She wants to scatter her late husband Joe’s ashes as he requested but her bitter step-daughter Francine (Christine Baranski) demands they be placed in her family crypt in California. Arvilla, still reluctant decides to take them there herself and hits the road with her two best friends, Margene (Kathy Bates) and Carol (Joan Allen) from her home in Idaho. As they share memories along the way they visit various places Arvilla & Joe spent time during their marriage and begin to scatter some of Joe’s ashes as he wanted.
Hey Joel! Not a fan of the Mamma Mia movies eh? Yeah it’s an acquired taste, but actually Lily James has a gorgeous voice and she sings with such emotion in the sequel. I think in the first one, I agree none of the actors could carry a tune, esp. Pierce Brosnan, which was absolutely horrid.
Also agreed that the super talented and beautiful Angela Bassett has been wasted by Hollywood, what a shame.
Thanks for sharing your picks! Wow, why haven’t I heard of Bonneville?? What a spectacular cast, I have to see where I can rent that one!
I will admit, I never got into Thelma and Louise as it’s just not the kind of film that I often associate Ridley Scott for but then again, his filmography is all over the place. I do like Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again! as it is an enjoyable film yet I often find myself tearing up whenever Cher sings “Fernando” as I didn’t expect to be moved like that. I know how great Cher is and I always respect but man, she took it to a new level. Waiting to Exhale is underrated as I always liked that film. Especially the scene where Angela Bassett bitch-slaps Kelly Preston early in the film. And don’t forget, Bassett plays a queen in the MCU!!!!!
So true that Ridley Scott’s filmography is all over the place, but I think T&L is one of his good ones and quite unexpected from him.
Glad you liked the Mamma Mia sequel, I find myself loving it more than I thought. That duet between Cher and Andy Garcia was quite something, wasn’t it? That was a casting feat to have her as Donna’s famous mother, apparently Cher and Meryl are BFFs so that’s probably why she got involved.
Bassett has always been a Queen to me even before she plays one in the MCU!! I wish they’d cast Wesley Snipes in the Black Panther too, he’s my favorite male character in that movie even though he only appears briefly.
Wesley Snipes could still be in Black Panther 2. Maybe in a flashback as T’Challa’s grandfather or he could reprise his role as Blade in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and meet Mahershala Ali who is set to play Blade in an upcoming film version for the MCU!!! I’m already blown away by the idea of Tobey Maguire possibly reprising his role as Peter Parker/Spider-Man and how he and Tom Holland would interact.
I’ve only seen Thelma and Louise, I only watched it because it’s directed by Ridley Scott and I had a huge crush on Geena Davis back in high school. Lol! To my surprised, I enjoyed the heck out of it. I always thought it’s a female version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Any men who complains that it’s anti-men are a bunch of insecure whiny wussies.
“I always thought it’s a female version of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” How interesting! I guess that make sense as both leads are also attractive and have a fun chemistry together.
Amen to your last line there, Ted!
I have seen all three. I saw the first Mama Mia and was entertained. I love the Greek islands, so the setting was a lure for me. I WANT those blue jean ruffled pants!
Hi Cindy! I love ABBA music and grew up listening to them, so that could be the appeal of Mamma Mia movies for me. But yeah, the scenery is absolutely amazing!! Those 70s outfits are a lot of fun!
Thelme & Louise is a good one. And one of these days i swear i will get around to finally watching Girls Trip.
I hope you’d check it out. I actually have not seen Girls Trip!
I still have to see the sequel of Mamma Mia and I love ABBA and have all the records…yes, records including a Spanish one. I haven’t seen Waiting to Exhale and Thelma & Louise is well acted and fun but that ending is one of the stupidest endings ever in my book. “Hey, after blowing up a tanker truck and killing a man in self defence, let’s end this by driving off a cliff while smiling”. Yeah, that’s what I think I’ll do with my best friend
Hi Birgit, hope you’re well. Oh you should see the sequel if you love ABBA. I think it’ll be on Netflix in a week or so. The movie is so much fun!
Ahah yeah I suppose that ending of T&L is bombastic, they’re kind of like Bonnie & Clyde in a way.
I have yet to finish Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), but I have to say I am cringing a lot. Some of the musical scenes are just bad I thought. And I do like some of ABBA’s songs. I just don’t like how it’s worked into the movie.