Paul Evans
I would say there is something magical about this film, but I'd be lying, everything about Girl's Night is magic. The story is sad, heart felt, heart warming, and gritty in a real life way. The combination of Julie Walters and Brenda Blethyn is jaw dropping on paper, and they perform outstandingly well together. Kay Mellor in my eyes can do no wrong, and this is another example of her at her best. The mix of the Northern working class environment, and glitz of Las Vegas makes for a great contrast. Even after all these years I can't watch it with a dry eye. Emotionally engaging and moving, this is truly a class act. It's a shame that we don't seem to be getting TV dramas like this anymore.
moonspinner55
40-year best friends, co-workers and sisters-in-law, make it out of their British working class neighborhood for a fantasy trip to Las Vegas, tempered by the fact that one of them is dying. Director Nick Hurran and writer Kay Mellor combine quite a number of different ingredients here (including illness, men-vs.-women, factory life, family problems, financial windfalls, travelogue and lovestruck cowboys), yet, despite some missteps, the movie is a worthwhile weepy anchored by terrific performances. As the firebrand, ill-tempered man-chaser, Julie Walters tones down her sometimes-brash personality and has several beautifully realized moments; as her "mate", Brenda Blethyn juggles the more standardized clichés of a character with a limited amount of time left (she's brave, she glows, she's suddenly stronger and charts her own course), though Blethyn is very engaging here and works so naturally and easily with Walters that their friendship strikes nary a false chord. Hurran's dreamy framing of this story, with a puzzling introduction, may put some viewers off, but those who stick with it will find a rewarding drama about friendship and love. These themes have been touched on before in films--and true, there isn't much originality or surprises in Mellor's script--yet the bumps in the road here are actually rather endearing, and by the end of "Girls' Night" I was moved by the thoughtfully worked-out transition of the plotting. It's a minor gem. *** from ****
George Parker
"Girls' Night" (a misleading title) tells of two middle aged, working class English women best friends and what happens when one is diagnosed with cancer. Although the film is about a last blast in Vegas and the usual throes of terminal illness, the greater story and substance shows how people grow and mature through their experiences and encounters with others. A very well managed and typically austere little Brit flick, "Girls' Night" is a character-driven drama which is more uplifting than woeful, features sterling performances by the Blethyn and Walters, and serves up positive subliminal messages instead of wallowing in grief. Most likely to be appreciated by more mature audiences, particularly females. (B)
Marco Radke
An intense and touching movie about two strong women! If you like that, a must-see!
AD
