Parents' Guide to

Tea with the Dames

By Tara McNamara, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 13+

Talky doc fun for fans but unlikely to hold teen interest.

Movie NR 2018 81 minutes
Tea with the Dames Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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What's the Story?

TEA WITH THE DAMES brings together four of England's most renowned Dames of the Arts -- who, it turns out, are also close friends who've worked and played together for more than half a century. The film follows Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Joan Plowright, and Eileen Atkins as they meet for a weekend in the countryside to reflect on their personal and professional experiences.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

This movie is everything the title suggests: It's a group of respected older women having everyday conversation over tea (and champagne). Although their everyday conversation isn't the same as most people's, the delivery lacks the sizzle the setup promises. When four of the acting world's greatest performers, who are also dear friends, gather for a chat, you'd hope that a director as skilled as Notting Hill's Roger Michell would coax out profound insights and shocking untold stories delivered with resonance. But that's not what happens. The women titter over memories of classical actors, unfair directors, and harsh critics, but issues that could be really revelatory are glazed over.

Part of this is due to Michell's chosen format. His intention in Tea with the Dames was to position viewers as the fifth friend, joining the actresses at the table and seeing them unvarnished and authentic. What that means in practice is witnessing the moments where hearing aids need to be turned up, where conversation runs dry, and where an icon gets fed up with the production staff. It's real all right -- and die-hard fans of the actresses will likely eat it up -- but including the "between takes" moments sometimes feels disrespectful. The benefit of the movie's fly-on-the-wall scenario is overhearing the familiar conversation among longtime trusted buddies, but the downside is that, for many, it may be too inside: They mention friends by first names only, quote miscellaneous lines of dialogue from a play, or allude to situations most audiences are likely to be unfamiliar with. Fans of British theater and these Grand Dames will soak up every minute, but for a general audience, the tea is too bland.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Tea with the Dames shows the value of maintaining friendships over a long period of time. Where do people typically meet friends? What can be gained from having friends with different -- and similar -- backgrounds and lifestyles?

  • How can professional rivalry affect friendship? Why do you think these women didn't let competitiveness get in the way of their friendship?

  • The actresses talk about hearing criticism of their physical appearance during their careers. How did that affect their decisions? How did they persevere?

  • Maggie Smith says that "The point [of Damehood] is for the people who got you where you are, it's not really for you." What does she mean by that? Is that an example of gratitude?

Movie Details

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