Although THE FABULOUS FOUR is not Dead Man Walking, Sarandon brings to life Lou, a surgeon who loves her two cats. She even goes to Key West because two of her friends (portrayed by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally) tell her she should visit a museum there with a cat who has seven toes.
These friends want her to be in Key West where Marilyn, the fourth friend (played by Bette Midler) is getting married again. They know Lou doesn’t want to see that former friend. So the plot thickens!
Lots of surprises and laughs in this movie kept me quite interested. But the whole idea of friendship helped me understand the importance of forgiveness.
These four women were fabulous friends during their college days many years ago. Now Lou (Sarandon) is a doctor, as mentioned: .Kitty (Ralph) a business woman and Alice (Mullally) a singer. Last but not least, Marilyn (Midler) is a bride again. Their meeting in Key West makes an adventure for each one but especially Lou when she meets Ted (Bruce Greenwood). Their unusual meeting scene is one of my favorites. The rousing closing musical number also made me happy.
Although the acting gets a bit frantic at times, it seems necessary for the story.
Time to end with a film poem.
Broken friendship is hard to take.
Something can make the whole thing break
Even best buddies torn apart.
Two people with a broken heart.
THE FABULOUS FOUR deals with this.
Sarandon, Midler not to miss.
The other two trying so hard.
What will happen and with what card?
This story told in comic style
But my feeling? A deeper smile.
It hit me right inside my heart.
I think best friends should never part.
I missed that chance some years ago.
Now I regret it. Now I know.
(THE FABULOUS FOUR is available on Prime Video and rated “R.” Jocelyn Moorhouse directed. Writers include Ann Marie Allison and Jenna Milly.)
FULL DISCLOSURE: Back in 2004 I wrote a book titled Susan Sarandon: A True Maverick, published by Wheatmark. This book is an analysis of Sarandon’s achievements from a film critic’s perspective. It also includes an annotated filmography of Sarandon’s movies and selected reviews of her key movies up to that date. She now has over 170 film roles.
