Throughout our lives, we encounter films that make us want to fist bump the sky and tackle each day with unbridled enthusiasm. It doesn’t happen often but when it does – it’s powerful.
For me, there are three movies that perfectly capture this inspirational magic: Legally Blonde, A League of Their Own and The First Wives Club.
There’s something about strong women coming together to support each other, while exacting their revenge on the people and situations that have held them back that really tickles me. Funny that.
Victory in the face of adversity is always a crowd-pleaser, and when this success is enabled by capable ladies – I’m all for it.
Naturally, when the First Wives Club reboot was announced through the Paramount Network, and we discovered was actually going to be a television series – I was excited but nervous.
I had a lot of questions.
So here they are…
1. Is the cast of characters still going to be focused on women in their mid-late forties?
The casting for the original 1996 film wasn’t just genius (hello, Goldie Hawn, Better Midler and Diane Keaton are all actual living legends) – but it was also incredibly important to see women above the age of 30 having their experiences represented on screen. Will the reboot tick this box? Or go for a younger demographic?
2. Will the television show include the toe-tapping tune from the original film, “You Don’t Own Me”?
Note to producers: We need a rousing song to get us out of our seats and dancing along the hallways with our best buds by our sides.
Do not deprive us of a dance. You would be deeply foolish to do so. I’m still feeling the 2015 version of “You Don’t Own Me” by Grace, and would be very OK with them resurrecting this tune for a killer final scene in the very first episode.
3. Will the reboot cover topics that go beyond breakups and horrible husbands, including fat shaming, alcoholism, ageism and loneliness?
What made the characters in the original film so relatable was that beside having issues with their former partners, they were each battling demons of their own. Brenda (Bette Middler) suffered from body image due to her supposed ‘heavy’ weight, Annie (Diane Keaton) had major self-esteem and confidence issues, and Elyse (Goldie Hawn) was a lonely alcoholic who spent most nights drowning her sorrows with bottles of vodka.
4. Will they get the original stars to make a guest appearance? Because they all still hang out and that would be all-time.
OK, so it’s been a while, but back in 2011, Bette Midler tweeted a picture of the gang hanging out at the Beverly Hills Hotel and the Internet exploded with anticipation of a First Wives sequel. So… yeah we’ve been waiting nearly seven years. Please – let’s get them all together for a cameo in the show, even if it’s just for five minutes.
5. Are we going to see some diversity among the women represented in the film?
It’s been confirmed that Girls Trip co-writer Tracy Oliver will be penning the half-an-hour episodes, so hopefully this also means we’ll see a range of female characters having their stories explored. Not just rich and privileged white women who are able to legitimately afford to buy a warehouse in New York City to renovate and turn into their headquarters.
So excited to announce my First Wives Club pilot was officially picked up!!! Honored to bring these dynamic women to the small screen!!! ??? https://t.co/JugXAMf46t
— Tracy Y. Oliver (@TracyYOliver) April 5, 2018
6. Will we enjoy some truly inspired dialog?
The original film featured a script that wasn’t just tight – it was full of quotable lines and sick burns. Scott Rudin will be co-producing the series (he produced the original film), so we’ve got high hopes.
Bring it on, we’re ready to feel inspired all over again (and on a weekly binge-able basis at that).