The Hot Flashes is certainly a film that has high intentions. Attempting to achieve a level of entertainment that both amuses and enlightens, the movie plows through it's runtime with stereotypes and underdeveloped characters. As a result, the movie appears more as progressive propaganda than anything else.
The film is not without several good shots at comedy and feel good entertainment, The cast has great chemistry with each other, something which greatly elevates the second half. The entire cast seems to be having an amusing time in the film. And there is good intent all around. However, the intent to provide audiences with a fresh, meaningful screenplay does not always translate to a success.
What we are given as audiences is a movie with so many missed opportunities. A film that celebrates middle aged women is long overdue. However, instead of receiving characters who excel despite the stigma surrounding them, the audience is given a bunch of characters who have to cheat, bribe, and manipulate their way to success. Even in the end scene, when it appears that we are going to see these women succeed based on their own skill and growth as characters, we see the other team phoning it in, and ignoring who was unabashedly their best player.
The main characters are horribly underdeveloped, and it often feels like the director forgot to tell someone to film these characters when huge moments happen. Clementine and Roxie go from hating to loving each other within two scenes. Florine, the most reluctant character shoots a ball once and decides to go all in on the basketball plan. And we never get to learn too much about the woman that brings these women together. What kind of person was she? We know she is great woman who ran a mobile mammogram company and she seemed to be someone who was well liked, but we learn precious few specifics about her life other than her name.
As if an underdeveloped lead cast is bad enough, all of the side characters give them a run for their money. Men are lazy bums who need to be taken care of and satisfied, lest they seek pleasure elsewhere. Religious people are hateful and hypocritical. Teenage girls are just always angry. And audiences are just supposed to be okay with all of this. There are almost no elements of the film that are treated with any kind of sensitivity, the most shocking of which was the lesbian plot line. The fact that one character has not come out of the closet is treated as a joke. Even the progressive characters of the movie simply see her as "that lesbian that everyone knows about but hasn't come out". And when she does come out, instead of rallying around her for support, they simply congratulate her on the nice piece of meat she managed to snag, I can just imagine what that plot line could've been if we had developed her partner more, if we developed her reluctance to come out more. And wouldn't it have been such a heartwarming moment to watch them have a genuine intimate moment, especially at the climax of the film.
Wouldn't it have been so great if these women rallied together, and used nothing but their own skills to achieve their goals? Wouldn't it have been so great if anything meaningful was discussed about religion? Wouldn't it have been great if we had a sensitive portrayal of a lesbian couple who aren't ready to be out in the open yet?
People who do not need a deep conversation about political beliefs will easily be able to write this movie off as an amusing film with a good message. But, others will find it hard to get past how underdeveloped the entire film is.
The film is not without several good shots at comedy and feel good entertainment, The cast has great chemistry with each other, something which greatly elevates the second half. The entire cast seems to be having an amusing time in the film. And there is good intent all around. However, the intent to provide audiences with a fresh, meaningful screenplay does not always translate to a success.
What we are given as audiences is a movie with so many missed opportunities. A film that celebrates middle aged women is long overdue. However, instead of receiving characters who excel despite the stigma surrounding them, the audience is given a bunch of characters who have to cheat, bribe, and manipulate their way to success. Even in the end scene, when it appears that we are going to see these women succeed based on their own skill and growth as characters, we see the other team phoning it in, and ignoring who was unabashedly their best player.
The main characters are horribly underdeveloped, and it often feels like the director forgot to tell someone to film these characters when huge moments happen. Clementine and Roxie go from hating to loving each other within two scenes. Florine, the most reluctant character shoots a ball once and decides to go all in on the basketball plan. And we never get to learn too much about the woman that brings these women together. What kind of person was she? We know she is great woman who ran a mobile mammogram company and she seemed to be someone who was well liked, but we learn precious few specifics about her life other than her name.
As if an underdeveloped lead cast is bad enough, all of the side characters give them a run for their money. Men are lazy bums who need to be taken care of and satisfied, lest they seek pleasure elsewhere. Religious people are hateful and hypocritical. Teenage girls are just always angry. And audiences are just supposed to be okay with all of this. There are almost no elements of the film that are treated with any kind of sensitivity, the most shocking of which was the lesbian plot line. The fact that one character has not come out of the closet is treated as a joke. Even the progressive characters of the movie simply see her as "that lesbian that everyone knows about but hasn't come out". And when she does come out, instead of rallying around her for support, they simply congratulate her on the nice piece of meat she managed to snag, I can just imagine what that plot line could've been if we had developed her partner more, if we developed her reluctance to come out more. And wouldn't it have been such a heartwarming moment to watch them have a genuine intimate moment, especially at the climax of the film.
Wouldn't it have been so great if these women rallied together, and used nothing but their own skills to achieve their goals? Wouldn't it have been so great if anything meaningful was discussed about religion? Wouldn't it have been great if we had a sensitive portrayal of a lesbian couple who aren't ready to be out in the open yet?
People who do not need a deep conversation about political beliefs will easily be able to write this movie off as an amusing film with a good message. But, others will find it hard to get past how underdeveloped the entire film is.