The latter pales in comparison, however, to the fact that Annie's husband, John (JOHN ALDERTON), is dying from cancer. Following his death and the earlier weeks of sitting in the uncomfortable hospital waiting room, Chris and Annie decide that they should raise money for a comfortable couch and do so through their annual Women's Institute calendar sales.
This time, however, Chris has a radical idea. Rather than shots of flowers or other traditional subjects, she, Annie and others in their group will pose in the nude with various foreground objects in the shots blocking views of anything too explicit.
They eventually convince other women in the group, including Ruth (PENELOPE WILTON), Jesse (ANNETTE CROSBIE), Celia (CELIA IMRIE) and Cora (LINDA BASSETT), to join them, but their decision doesn't sit will with their group's prim leader, Marie (GERALDINE JAMES) or Ruth's husband, Eddie (GEORGE COSTIGAN).
Nevertheless, and with the aid of reluctant photographer Lawrence (PHILIP GLENISTER), the women do their shots, print the calendar and then deal with the unexpected repercussions that follow.
Various middle-aged women pose nude for a charity calendar where various foreground objects in the shots or the positioning of the model's bodies block explicit nudity (all of which is played for comedy rather than eroticism). That said, varying amounts of skin are seen in the shots and during the shoots, and one such woman's bare breasts are briefly seen live and then in a photo. More traditional posters of younger women in somewhat similar poses are also present.
Some characters have bad attitudes, while others drink, a teen thinks he's smoking pot with his buddy (but we later learn it was oregano) and some drug references are made. Tense family material includes the death of a spouse (from cancer), a cheating husband and the above teen's interest in drugs and reaction to his mother's nude calendar work.
If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.
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(2003) (Helen Mirren, Julie Walters) (PG-13)
Alcohol/
DrugsBlood/Gore
Disrespectful/
Bad AttitudeFrightening/
Tense ScenesGuns/
Weapons
Moderate
None
Heavy
None
*None
Imitative
BehaviorJump
ScenesMusic
(Scary/Tense)Music
(Inappropriate)Profanity
Mild
None
None
None
Moderate
Sex/
NuditySmoking
Tense Family
ScenesTopics To
Talk AboutViolence
Heavy
Minor
Moderate
Moderate
None
CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.
(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).
Reviewed November 20, 2003 / Posted December 19, 2003
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