Frequent marijuana use, depicted positively. A main character is an organic cannabis farmer and business owner, and the plant is shown in several different forms. Frequent consumption of edibles, sometimes in large quantities, and most main characters have edibles in their purse or pocket. One edible is given to a woman without telling her what she's taking, which is played for humor. Heavy drinking throughout (cocktails, wine, beer, champagne), including several scenes at different bars. Characters get drunk and high. A character successfully sneaks drugs onto an airplane.
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At a bachelorette party, women wear accessories that look like penises. At a strip club, a male dancer in a thong swings, gyrates, and thrusts his pelvis sexually, including toward the face of a laughing bride-to-be. A lead character is sexually assertive and eager for her next hook-up, slipping away with much younger men for what's implied to be casual sex (but no sex is actually seen or discussed). Sexually suggestive humor includes a running joke about a pelvic strengthening device. Flirty interactions and conversations about love and "stealing" a boyfriend. Plot is driven by a wedding.
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In one scene, women are quite noticeably drinking Bud Light.
Violence & Scariness
very little
Yelling, arguing, and pushing, including ripping off someone's dress sleeves as a hostile action. Moment of peril for the characters, but the tone is so light that it's not truly worrisome. Vomiting.
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"Time is a thief," so don't let pride, squabbles, or hurt feelings interrupt a valuable relationship. Courage is grace under pressure. Themes of friendship and forgiveness.
Positive Role Models
some
Lou is a heart surgeon who's principled, focused, and great at her work. Kitty is a loving and accepting grandmother and botanist (among other things, she grows marijuana). Marilyn and Alice are portrayed as a little flightier, but they're true to themselves and are loyal friends. None are perfect, but their friendship is aspirational.
Diverse Representations
some
Director and writers are women. The story is about four women over 60 (the actors are in their 60s and 70s) who are independent, successful, and vibrant, living full lives. All main characters except one—Kitty (Sheryl Lee Ralph), a Black business owner—are White. A few Black supporting characters (including the medical director at the hospital), as well as a couple of minor gay characters (also Pride flags and conversations about support and acceptance). Alice is sexually assertive and depicted as desirable to men of all ages.
Parents need to know that The Fabulous Four is a woman-written and -directed friendship comedy starring Bette Midler, Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Megan Mullally. It finds humor in the idea of "grandmas gone wild": Expect frequent marijuana use (especially edibles), heavy drinking, and many sexually suggestive jokes. Mullally's character is particularly sexually assertive, hooking up with most of the younger men she encounters. At a bachelorette party, the women wear headbands with plastic penises on them, and they go to a strip club where a male dancer in a tiny thong gyrates and thrusts his groin into the face of the bride-to-be. A gay supporting character's storyline involves a struggle with acceptance from a conservative Christian family member. The movie is set in Key West, Florida, and the energy and attitudes of the island pulse through the film. There's vomiting and strong language ("bitch," "slut," "f--ked up," etc.). Overall the movie is more likely to appeal to adults—especially women who identify with the main characters—than teens. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
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What's the Story?
Just months after the death of her husband of 48 years, Marilyn (Bette Midler) has found love again and—surprise!—is getting married. She implores her best friends from college, Kitty (Sheryl Lee Ralph) and Alice (Megan Mullally), to convince the fourth member of their long-ago quartet, surgeon Lou (Susan Sarandon), to attend the wedding in Key West so they can reunite and once again be THE FABULOUS FOUR.
This silly senior comedy is both entertaining and somewhat off-putting. It's great that movies featuring main characters over 60 are becoming abundant, including the traditionally underrepresented demographic of older women. And the ensemble in The Fabulous Four is phenomenal, particularly Sarandon as a staid cardiac surgeon who's excellent at repairing others' broken hearts but doesn't really tend to her own. Truly, the four stars are powerhouses who are known for their strong voices: They're known for being able to belt out a song, a performance, and a politically passionate speech like no other.
Given that, while the movie is fun—with several laugh-out-loud moments—it's kind of disappointing that the characters' primary conflict is over one woman "stealing" another's boyfriend, and that the other two are focused primarily on drugs and drinking. Moreover, while Mullally is known for playing confidently inappropriate characters, her rock star character Alice's only dimension here is vice: Her actions and conversations revolve around drinking, getting high, and bedding every young man in her path. (She seems coded as an addict, but the only talk of intervention is over Marilyn's social media obsession.) Putting these four talented women together in a comedy was a fabulous idea, so here's hoping that there's a sequel in which they're given material better suited to them and their audience.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Fabulous Four represents women over the age of 60. How do the portrayals here compare to those in other films you've seen? Why is representation important for everyone, including people in underrepresented age groups?
Does the movie glamorize drug use? Talk about the scene in which a character is given drugs without her knowledge: Do you think someone watching might take away the idea that that would be a funny prank? What could the real life consequences of that action be?
How is Key West a "character" in the movie? What other movies have you seen where the location is such a big part of the story that it influences the characters' attitudes and behavior?
Do you think the rift between Lou and Marilyn is believable? What do you think it takes to maintain a friendship over decades? What friendship offenses are forgivable, and which are deal-breakers?
MPAA explanation:
some sexual material, drug use and language
Last updated:
September 1, 2024
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Tara McNamara
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