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The First Wives Club

5.2

7,673

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Original title

The First Wives Club

Year

1996

Running time

103 min.

Country

United States

Director

Hugh Wilson

Screenwriter

Robert Harling. Novel: Olivia Goldsmith

Cast

Music

Marc Shaiman

Cinematography

Donald E. Thorin

Producer

Scott Rudin Productions. Distributor: Paramount Pictures

Genre

Comedy | Friendship

Synopsis

Three former college chums -- vain Elise, brassy Brenda and wimpy Annie -- reunite after the death of a friend. Soon, the ladies discover that they've all been recently dumped by their smarmy husbands for younger, nubile women. The neurotic trio decide to band together and seek vengeance, using such bureaucratic methods as the IRS and the legal system. But their dogged efforts lead the femmes to break laws themselves. Lots of them. So will revenge be sweet for these first wives? Or will they land in the slammer instead?

Awards: 1996: Nominated for Oscar: Best Original Soundtrack - Comedy

1996: National Board of Review: Best reparto

1996: Satellite Awards: Nominated for Actriz Comedy/Musical (Midler) & Supporting (Parker)

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Critics' reviews

"The First Wives Club has all the conviction a comedy of female vengeance needs. But as soon as the dumb plot takes over, the wit leaks out of the movie like helium from a balloon."

Owen Gleiberman: Entertainment Weekly
"The success of The First Wives Club rests on the way it makes the audience feel like insiders, like part of a glamorous Hollywood club."

Jonathan Rosenbaum: Chicago Reader
"Diane Keaton is at her best here, Goldie Hawn has never been this good, and we know going in that Bette Midler is virtually tailored to a raucous farce about the sweet revenge of spurned spouses."

Mike Clark: USA Today
"As pure entertainment, this witty revenge romp is sinfully satisfying"

Peter Travers: Rolling Stone
"There is undoubtedly a movie to be made about this material -- a different movie."

Roger Ebert: Chicago Sun-Times
"At its core, the film is a celebration of its star trio as consummate performers. In that respect, 'First Wives Club' is a highly enjoyable movie romp."

Leonard Klady: Variety
"It's a glamorous revenge romp, a '9 to 5' mixed with 'Auntie Mame,' and it gives each star the opportunity to do her best work in a long, long time."

Edward Guthmann: SFGATE
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User history

The First Wives Club

1996

Hugh Wilson

5.2

(7,673)