"Beaches"
DVD Review
by Kevin Carr
| MOVIE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars)
DVD EXPERIENCE: ***1/2 (out of 5 stars) STARRING Bette Midler as CC BLOOM Barbara Hershey as HILLARY WHITNEY ESSEX John Heard as JOHN PIERCE Spalding Gray as DR. RICHARD MILSTEIN Lainie Kazan as LEONA BLOOM James Read as MICHAEL ESSEX Rated PG-13 Studio: Touchstone Directed by: Garry Marshall Back to DVD Review Home |
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When the screening copy of the new “Beaches” DVD arrived, I proudly announced to my wife that I had her father’s next birthday gift. He’s one of those guys who loves chick flicks, and “Beaches” is the penultimate chick flick. My father-in-law cries at the end of this movie every time, and I have to admit when I first saw this film in its initial release, a tear came to my eye as well.
This viewing was different, though. I was prepared for the depressing subject matter. That, in addition to more than 15 years of cynical living as an adult, caused me to be less moved this time around. However, I still admit that “Beaches” is a decent flick.
I’m not against chick flicks, mind you. In fact, there are some chick flicks that I think are really solid movies (including Garry Marshall’s other film called “Pretty Woman”). For some reason, Garry Marshall is able to pull them off. Not all the time (after all, everyone’s got a “Raising Helen” in them ), but I do like his movies.
The story behind “Beaches” is a solid one, based on a book that if published today would probably be on Oprah’s book club in no time. And the reason it’s so good is that it’s not just a chick flick. Rather, it’s a story about two lifelong friends. They could be guys (and some things would obviously be different if they were), but the story would still be about two good friends and how they deal with the challenges life throws at them.
The story starts on Coney Island in the 50s. CC Bloom (Bette Midler) is from the Bronx, and Hillary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) is from a privileged family. However, they hit it off and vow to become pen pals after the summer. Years later, they finally meet face to face and become roommates in New York City. While CC’s career blooms (sorry, I couldn’t resist the pun) and Hillary comes out of her shell, they spend years of their lives forging their friendship.
This special edition DVD includes a commentary by Garry Marshall, which is always a treat. He delivers a great commentary and really makes the viewer feel welcome. There’s also a funny selection of bloopers from the film that were originally shown at the wrap party. Like most heavy dramas, it looked like they had plenty of fun behind the scenes.
If you didn’t see this movie in the 1980s, then you definitely remember the song “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler, which won a Grammy. There’s plenty more of that song to hear in this release, including the original music video and a retrospective on this from the AFI. Also in the special features is the screen test for Barbara Hershey, a solid reminder that Midler was the producer and carried a lot of weight behind this film.
The most interesting feature is an interview with Mayim Bialik, who played CC Bloom as a child. Bialik, who went on to star in the hit series “Blossom,” has since pulled back from the entertainment industry (although not completely; she admits to still attending auditions). She looks quite different now, not just from the spunky CC Bloom on the Coney Island beach but also from her “Blossom,” and it is interesting to hear her impressions about her big break.
To some, “Beaches” is definitely a classic. Others (mainly guys) can go their whole lives without seeing it and die happy. However, for the right person, the film really works.
Specifications: Dolby Digital Surround Sound. Widescreen (1.85:1). French language track. French subtitles. English language subtitles for the hearing impaired.
