Book Club

Book Club is currently streaming in Australia on Beamafilm, and in the US on Kanopy and Hoopla, and it delivers exactly the kind of comedy that earns a loyal following. It knows exactly what kind of film it is from the opening scene, and never loses that thread. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Diane Keaton leads a cast with real comic timing. Put it on tonight on Beamafilm and see for yourself.

There is a reason Book Club keeps coming up in conversation. Sharp writing and a well-matched ensemble are what separate Book Club from the crowd. Four lifelong friends decide that their lives could change by becoming nasty and reading Fifty Shades of Grey in their monthly book club to get inspiration on how to handle sexual pleasure at an elderly age. Diane Keaton and Jane Fonda lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2018. What keeps Book Club from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Book Club is the kind of thing you put on in the background and end up fully watching. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Diane Keaton's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.