A bit of a slow start that turns into a bit of a love story. Not in the traditional way of love stories though. The love between newfound female friends, a sisterhood, actually a cheerleading squad of senior citizens which was inspired by the “Sun City Poms” from Sun City, Arizona.
Martha (Diane Keaton) sells her belongings and moves from city living to a senior citizen planned community with lots of rules, requirements and stuffy management. Martha ends up the next door neighbor to Sheryl (Jacki Weaver) who is the rule breaker in the community having poker parties and providing a home for her under 55 grandson. When Sheryl finds an old cheerleading uniform of Martha’s in a box, they decide to start a cheerleading squad in lieu of joining a “group.” They fight together around every corner to accomplish their goal, as a “club” of wacky warrior women. It isn’t until they head into their last hurdle to show they world they’re not a joke that Martha’s truth is revealed.
There are tryouts, pep rallies, injuries, and disqualifications; all while deep-rooted, newfound friendships are formed. Together the women experience life and death in so many ways both literally and figuratively.
As my friend said, “It was beautiful, the friendships and love between women as friends.” All too often women find themselves alone later in life, this movie imparts the importance of lifting one another and connecting with those who you may see not immediate commonality.
You will laugh and perhaps as I did, you may shed a tear. This film is a reminder that tomorrow is not promised, we don’t know what the future holds and it’s never too late to do something you always wished you had done. Until it is too late.
Another viewer who remained until the end of the credits, in the front row, an older gentleman, applauded at the end. I asked across the theater, in the dark, what he liked about the movie, “The love and the friendships.” He then said, “It’s the time for women, it’s your time.” I don’t know who this man was, but thank you. For me, this is a reminder that we never know what someone else is going through and we always have the opportunity to accept and support one another.
Movie times: click here
Genre: Comedy
Run Time: 1 hr, 31 min
Rating: PG-13
