Opened: September 12, 2008

Directed by: Diane English

Starring: Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Candice Bergen, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Bette Midler, Carrie Fisher, India Ennenga, Jill Flint, Ana Gasteyer, Joanna Gleason, Tilly Scott Pederson & Lynn Whitfield

Despite being about the women, The Women is constantly overshadowed by the men causing the drama.

Mary Haines (Meg Ryan) discovers that her husband is having an affair with a Saks perfume spritzer named Crystal Allen (Eva Mendes). Mary’s friends Sylvie (Annette Bening), Edie (Debra Messing) and Alex (Jada Pinkett Smith) all come to support Mary through this time.

While there’s a good setup of women building each other up, everything comes crashing down with writer and director Diane English’s screenplay. Except for Sylvie and Mary, the main characters don’t have chemistry or an explanation for how they became friends. Also, pretty much every character in this script is a stereotypical female character with zero depth or growth.

Some good acting, especially moments with Bette Midler and Candice Bergen, can’t make up for the bad.

Final say: An unfortunate misstep. ★☆☆☆☆