Book Club: The Next Chapter Rom-Com Movie Review

I’d Go Anywhere With You — Especially Italy!

WriterKat
3 min readMay 14

Book Club: The Next Chapter

I’ve had a fascination with Italy since watching The Godfather in the 1970s. How ironic that Diane Keaton was in The Godfather, and we’re watching her in this movie. I love Diane!

I love so many things about Book Club: The Next Chapter. Let me count the ways…

  • The cinematography of the Italian countryside is stunning.
  • The fashion is fantastic. It makes me want to dress up and go to an Italian opera!
  • I love that women over sixty are being cast in romance movies, even if it is a comedy.
  • I love the references and quotes from other movies. “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine.”
  • The not-so-subtle innuendos cracked me up. I know some critics say it’s corny. But to me it’s hilarious — especially the scene with Jane Fonda’s character and the buff cop. Too funny!
  • Don Johnson has aged like fine wine. (I know, frisky, just like my girls!)
  • I have always been a fan of Andy Garcia. His charm oozes off the screen and warms my heart. I almost forgot Andy was also in The Godfather!

Book Club: The Next Chapter accomplished what I wanted: a couple hours of vicarious adventure. A few scenes made my eyes water, like Mary Steenburgen’s character saying, “When we are young, we think anything is possible, but as we age, that voice is silenced.” I felt that.

This movie reminded me to go on adventures, live out loud, laugh with friends, and that we still need passion and love no matter how old we get. It also makes me want to hop on the next plane to fulfill my wish to visit Italy. Note to self: Renew passport ASAP.

Mary Steenburgen plays the accordion in the movie. I saw an interview where she said that scene was real. She plays the accordion and has been writing songs for seventeen years! What? How did I not know…

WriterKat

Writer focused on holistic health, personal development, spirituality, technology, nonfiction books, movies, and music.