Girls' Night (1998) Reviews

• A Strong Little Film

  Chrysanthepop2008-01-26

  Though we have seen many such films before, in 'Girl's Night', director Hurran and TV writer Mellor combine several ideas such as financial trouble, sickness, work in a factory, secrets, Las Vegas, marriage, family and of course love and friendship. Though it may seem like too many ideas, it comes together beautifully, resulting in a powerful ending. What makes the film strong is the natural performances by Julie Walters and Brenda Blethyn. Walters shows the growth of her character with élan while Blethyn, though her role is a bit clichéd, plays her part with grace. Their friendship looks very real thanks to the great chemistry between these two terrific actresses. I also liked the sudden shift in location from England to Las Vegas and the contrast between the two cities. The introduction of Kristofferson's character comes as a pleasant surprise and the desert scene that follows brings some colour. I also like how comedy was used in a very subtle way. However, next to being predictable, it is a very sentimental film (which isn't hard to figure given the core subject matter) and in parts resembles a disease-of-the-week TV movie. The supporting cast, that includes some popular names, is wasted. What really elevates it is the strong performances of the two leads. All the moments with Blethyn and Walters and the ending when Walters's character comes to a realization are what make 'Girl's Night' worth the watch.

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• Fab

  adeafay2015-04-26

  I love this film and have been searching for a copy for years. it shows a real gritty interpretation of Northan British working class life. I viewed this film with no idea what it was about and have to say it will one day be part of my permanent film collection. If you are British or want a good depiction of Britain's ordinary Northerners this is a great movie. I will admit that a critic or someone who is going to pull it apart, there will be short comings. However as a wonderfully atmospheric and moving all round piece it is just truly splendid, Julie Walters performance was as always just brilliant and together with Brenda, the chemistry for me worked fantastically. Also the ending was unexpected and really rounded it off nicely. I just love it thank you to everyone involved for bringing this quaint and humble story into my life.

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• A bumpy hybrid of different themes, though it comes together beautifully by the end

  moonspinner552007-08-11

  40-year best friends, co-workers and sisters-in-law, make it out of their British working class neighborhood for a fantasy trip to Las Vegas, tempered by the fact that one of them is dying. Director Nick Hurran and writer Kay Mellor combine quite a number of different ingredients here (including illness, men-vs.-women, factory life, family problems, financial windfalls, travelogue and lovestruck cowboys), yet, despite some missteps, the movie is a worthwhile weepy anchored by terrific performances. As the firebrand, ill-tempered man-chaser, Julie Walters tones down her sometimes-brash personality and has several beautifully realized moments; as her "mate", Brenda Blethyn juggles the more standardized clichés of a character with a limited amount of time left (she's brave, she glows, she's suddenly stronger and charts her own course), though Blethyn is very engaging here and works so naturally and easily with Walters that their friendship strikes nary a false chord. Hurran's dreamy framing of this story, with a puzzling introduction, may put some viewers off, but those who stick with it will find a rewarding drama about friendship and love. These themes have been touched on before in films--and true, there isn't much originality or surprises in Mellor's script--yet the bumps in the road here are actually rather endearing, and by the end of "Girls' Night" I was moved by the thoughtfully worked-out transition of the plotting. It's a minor gem. *** from ****

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• A magical film.

  Sleepin_Dragon2016-03-31

  I would say there is something magical about this film, but I'd be lying, everything about Girl's Night is magic. The story is sad, heart felt, heart warming, and gritty in a real life way. The combination of Julie Walters and Brenda Blethyn is jaw dropping on paper, and they perform outstandingly well together. Kay Mellor in my eyes can do no wrong, and this is another example of her at her best. The mix of the Northern working class environment, and glitz of Las Vegas makes for a great contrast. Even after all these years I can't watch it with a dry eye. Emotionally engaging and moving, this is truly a class act. It's a shame that we don't seem to be getting TV dramas like this anymore.

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• Worth a Girl's Night In

  cmon35902006-10-06

  I saw this movie for the first time on Australian TV last night and was really impressed by it. It focuses on the lives of two English working-class best friends, one of whom becomes terminally ill soon after learning she has won big in a lottery. This theme may sound somewhat clichéd, but that's not how it transfers to screen in this movie. The topic of cancer is handled realistically yet respectfully (for example, no graphic scenes of pain or vomiting, etc), and the relationship between the best friends (Jackie and her soon-to-be sick friend, Dawn) is poignant in it's portrayal. Because of the typically down-to-earth British-style acting, you are not left feeling that you've simply fallen for another tear-jerker, rather, that you've actually experienced something that could easily be a tragic, real-life scenario. It wasn't sappy or melodramatic at all, although having said that, cancer IS dramatic, so even it had been handled this way it wouldn't have been a problem for me. The scene where Dawn says that an angel visited her in a dream and kissed her on the shoulder made me want to cry. She seems just like a vulnerable child here, which is what serious illness does to people. Many people in today's society take things like international travel for granted. But for many folk out there, particularly the sort of characters portrayed in this movie, such things are only ever imagined. So when Jackie takes her dying friend Dawn to Las Vegas for one last blast, personally, I found it very touching. Dawn's character probably never thought something like this could happen to her (or that she would win big in a lottery in the first place!) so you really feel for her and want her to enjoy herself. This part of the movie also provides a good opportunity for some of the movie's lighter moments, for example, when Jackie and Dawn become like giggling teenage girls again over an attractive hotel porter! The only thing that was a little depressing for me was the apparent lack of any real relationship between Dawn and her kids. They are portrayed as quite bratty, but as a dying woman I kept expecting Dawn to try and form one last close bond with them, which never seemed to happen. It would have been nice if we could have seen Dawn's kids (and her husband) sharing in her life's revelations as well, not just her best friend/sister-in-law, Jackie. Overall though, I was really touched by this film. It is humble where it should be humble, dynamic where it should be dynamic. Both the main actresses (Walters and Blethyn) do a superb job and seem to really understand the characters they are portraying. I recommend it to anyone to watch, particularly women.

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