Three life-long friends work the bars in 1980s Atlantic City performing the songs of the 1960s girl groups.
Mulheres, Amigas e Irmãs, Les Lemon Sisters, Lemon Sisters
Portugal
Portugal
The premise to this film ("three life-long friends work the bars in 1980's Atlantic City performing the songs of the 60's girl groups") sounds like heaven to me, but, wow, the film actually left me speechless and not in the good sense. This film just isn't about anything. I was having dinner as I watched the film but otherwise I probably would have just been too bored to finish it.
It's reminiscent of 'Beaches' (which I didn't enjoy very much either) and 'The Story of My LIfe' (which I have very fond memories of but can't get a hold of now). Like I said in my review of 'How Stella Got Her Groove Back', I was spoiled as a little…
All I remember of this is someone sticking their head in an oven, intending self-murder.
So as you can see, you have Diane Keaton, Carol Kane and some other woman I've never heard of. Aidan Quinn, Ruben Blades, Elliot Gould and a bit part from Nathan Lane.
That's a lot of talent in the cast, so why was the film so boring? And the plot so soap opera-ish?
It will probably enrage you seeing these women blow $100,000 seemingly at will at points in this movie, or when they 'sing' at points. I wasn't sure if it was other people doing the singing, or just god awful dubbing.
The cast is likable enough, but the movie is just pointless overall. Characters literally fight and make-up with each other in only a few seconds apart. Everything feels fake about this story. What a waste of a great cast.
So bad I need to know what happened. I’m halfway through and may not make it to the end.
False and contrived in every way, gratingly cutesy, and too broadly acted even for an ‘80s gal pal dramedy.
It’s the antithesis of everything else Joyce Chopra’s directed. Was she a gun for hire? It doesn’t feel like a passion project, and so joyless that Chopra seems swallowed whole by the stars or producers (the Weinsteins!).
Kathryn Grody’s voiceover looms over almost every scene as if it was added in post, and Keaton’s sub-Annie Hall shtick is tired and annoying. That leaves Carol Kane, who’s somewhat understated in comparison, but none of these characters is a real person. They’re a collection…
The premise of this movie would normally be right up my alley. I adore both Diane Keaton and Carol Kane. There are a couple funny or cute moments. Elliott Gould was the true MVP for one particular scene. Bottom line, The Lemon Sisters is a Lemon.
This just really hurt, it's so terrible you feel bad for all the wonderful people in it. And the narration actually physically hurts. The flashbacks are cute though (Carol Kane's younger counterpart is particularly perfect - apparently so perfect she would do the same in Office Killer a few years later…)
David Stratton’s Review for Variety.
Set in Atlantic City, “The Lemon Sisters” is a romantic comedy about three women whose friendship overcomes all obstacles. Underwritten and awkwardly structured, the pic fails to deliver the promise of its strong cast. Box office prospects aren’t good.
The film opens well with the three, Eloise (Diane Keaton), Franki (Carol Kane) and Nola (Kathryn Grody), performing a musical routine for the last time in a nightclub that’s shuttering. Despite heckling, they sock over such standards as "Under The Boardwalk" and "Friends.”
Eloise is an asthmatic who won’t give up her beloved cats (which cause the asthma) and who reveres her late father’s collection of tv memorabilia (including Jack Benny’s violin). She has a desultory…
oy. i stopped paying attention about 20 mins in.
elliott gould plays lumpy family man keeping an inherited atlantic city taffy shop going.
