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Parents' Guide to

Book Club

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Fabulous stars drink, talk about sex in racy comedy.

Movie PG-13 2018 104 minutes
Book Club Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 12 parent reviews

Frances72
Frances72 Adult
November 1, 2019
age 17+

not my kind of film

Boring, and over the top.
icecream52
icecream52 Adult
September 11, 2018
age 17+

Even a party loving 18 yr old loved it

Let me preface this by letting you know that I am 18 yr old who loves to party and drink. Watching the trailer on youtube made me think this movie would be lighthearted but only relatable to middle aged women. I was so wrong. This movie left me laughing and a feeling of wisdom which can only be imparted by someone who's lived their life. I found myself surprised that I could relate to the mother, who sacrifices her own life to care for other people, even if those people have outgrown their need for her care. The joy of laughing along with the women when they regale their dating adventures made me feel like i was having tea with a bunch of fun aunties. This movie is great because it does not depend on vulgarity for humour. The humour is so subtle and FUNNY because they come from moments that occur in real life. They do this in clever physical metaphors and some really clever banter, which left me impressed and thinking "I need to steal these lines". It was amazing to see strong female friendships with all support and no envy. Each personality was likeable and distinct. I recommend this movie for teenagers and above. Everyone will find something to relate to and laugh about. I found this funnier and therefore liked it more than the box-office record breaking Crazy Rich Asians.

This title has:

Great messages
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 12 parent reviews

What's the Story?

BOOK CLUB follows four 60-something Southern California best friends who've been meeting and discussing books since they were in their 20s. Single hotelier Vivian (Jane Fonda) never demands more than casual sex from men. Federal judge Sharon (Candice Bergen) has been celibate for the 18 years since she divorced her husband. Recently widowed stay-at-home mom Diane (Diane Keaton) is at odds with her two adult daughters, who want her to move near them in Arizona. And chef Carol (Mary Steenburgen) is happily married to newly retired Bruce (Craig T. Nelson); they love each other but haven't been intimate in six months. When it's Vivian's turn to pick the next book, she gives everyone Fifty Shades of Grey. At first the women balk at reading erotica, but as they read E.L. James' trilogy, they each rediscover their "inner goddesses," whether it's through online dating (for Sharon), flirting with a handsome pilot (Andy Garcia) for Diane, or rekindling an old flame (Don Johnson) for Vivian.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (12 ):
Kids say (3 ):

No matter how you feel about the Fifty Shades of Grey books, it's a treat to watch this quartet of excellent actresses on screen together, although the comedy is only somewhat entertaining. Although it would be wonderful for the 65-and-over actresses to perform in a film that didn't involve Fifty Shades as a central plot point, it's undeniably amusing to see them banter in this Nancy Meyers-like comedy. (Gorgeous homes? Check! Keaton's trademark costume style? Check! Sexagenarian romance? Check! All-white cast? Check ...) It's also refreshing for a movie to offer the possibility that older women can be with younger men (Johnson is 12 years younger than Fonda, and Garcia is 10 years younger than Keaton) and to cast acclaimed actors like Wallace Shawn, Ed Begley Jr., and Richard Dreyfuss in supporting roles.

The characters' various love stories are unevenly played out, with Keaton's and Fonda's the most traditionally romantic, Bergen's played for laughs (she finds her suitors through online dating), and Steenburgen's somewhat bittersweet except for a predictable sequence involving Viagra and its long-lasting effects. But it's not the romances that make this film watchable, it's the supportive relationships between the women. The dialogue is authentic -- as is the high amount of alcohol consumption associated with women's book clubs (it's unclear how the characters were functional at their jobs after drinking so much wine). Two of the best parts of the movie are the breathtaking California and Arizona locations and the nostalgic soundtrack, which ranges from Paul Simon and Meat Loaf to Tom Petty and Roxy Music.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about who the target audience for Book Club is. How can you tell? Why do you think there are relatively few films featuring older women?

  • Which characters do you consider role models in the movie? Why?

  • What role does drinking play in the characters' lives? Do you think they drink responsibly?

  • Why do you think the Fifty Shades books are so popular, even among those who haven't read the trilogy? Why do you think they've made such an impact on popular culture?

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