Review of Beaches

Beaches (1988)
7/10
Poignant and often funny
2 December 2007
Warning: Spoilers
Either this film improves with each viewing, or I'm just getting more and more sentimental as the years go by.

Garry Marshall's best film to date ("Pretty Woman" and the depressing "Frankie and Johnny" followed), "Beaches" tells the story of a lifelong friendship, its ups and its downs, its trials and its triumphs. Bette Midler gives another solid performance as the showy C.C. Bloom, yet to her credit Barbara Hershey is not overawed by Midler's strong presence and gives an equally fine performance as Hillary. The two share a bond which lasts through all their good and bad years.

This is a nicely balanced picture which always stays true to life, never becoming melodramatic nor manipulative. A poignant and often funny film which benefits from Ms. Midler's fine voice and music.

Monday, October 4, 1993 - Video

"Beaches" is a strong drama which tells the tale of two lifelong friends whose bond survives both thick and thin.

Director Garry Marshall's stable control keeps the film well balanced while he shows a good understanding of the "genre", as it were. The two lead performances, both world's apart, cap off a most enjoyable film.

Sunday, March 13, 1994 - T.V.
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