Purely Joyful Movie!

Perfect cast and a good story

An Exercise In Nonsense

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Gawd This Movie I Awful!!! So superficial. So fake. Such a vehicle for Bette Midler. And she is horrible as herself. And these contrived scenes after "she made it big" in the movie. Poorly directed scenes and no character development for Barbara Hershey and James Read. The onslaught of press when it came out, i.e. Oprah and the like was a major RED FLAG! This movie was an assault on the eyes, ears, and heart of anyone with a brain. Oy Vey!!!

Two young girls meet whilst on holiday in Atlantic city. Tho both of them are from vastly different backgrounds they strike up a friendship that will literally last a lifetime.Directed by Gary Marshall, Beaches is adapted by Mary Agnes Donoghue from Iris Rainer Dart's novel, and stars Bette Midler & Barbara Hershey as the two female protagonists taking on the trials and tribulations of life and friendship. Unashamedly a hankie dampener first and foremost, Beaches is ever watchable in spite of its over sentimental structure and reliance on clichés at every turn. Tho it at times feels like an excuse for Midler to flex her lungs, her character thankfully calls for her to show some range. Which she duly delivers thru a number of emotional crises' and a battle against her own innate selfishness. Hershey is perfect foil, a touch classy, fashionable and truly heartfelt as the finale draws in like some dark party pooper. The guys in the girls loves come an go, and by and large they are stereotypically drawn. Each one serving only to bring the girls closer together. While the ending itself, backed up by the wonderful Midler rendition of "Wind Beneath My Wings," is nicely handled and has an air of dignity about it.It's another film in the long line of film's made to tug the heartstrings. Specifically in this case, those belonging to the ladies. So with that, as a guy myself, I felt a touch alienated by the movies approach work. But be that as it may, there's no denying the impact the piece can have if one is prepared to commit emotionally to it. At times funny, and even breezy for a large portion of its running time, Beaches lives or dies by its final quarter. With that, it's a winner that ultimately has achieved all it set out to do. 6.5/10

Cecilia Bloom,aspiring Shirley Temple,sings "The glory of love" at an audition right at the beginning of "Beaches",minutes after she has met her new friend Hilary.Its a innocent and simple song and she sings it innocently and simply.Cecilia herself is innocent,if a tad precocious. Next time she sings it she has knocked about a bit,the song has altered its tempo,the accompaniment pushier.By the time we have reached the end of the movie it gets the full Gordon Jenkins - type treatment,altered chords,brilliant string and brass arrangement,C.C. Bloom,moulded by the sad events that have led her to where she is,has become a grown - up person with responsibilities,no longer a maverick. The movie could be summed up as "A star is born.Her best friend dies. Cue music for Big Number"if I were cynical,but mostly I went along with it because I enjoy Ms Midler with her "Barbra Streisand without the restraint" schtick. Miss Barbara Hershey is appropriately milquetoast as her WASP friend. Dominated by her father,controlled by her husband,a person less likely to retain the friendship of such a hugely talented but eccentric star would be harder to imagine.And I guess that's the point. At the end of the day there's only room for one big ego in "Beaches",and Ms Midler goes full tilt at everything. She sings beautifully and overacts madly.And it just about balances out.

The reason i wanted to see this movie is because i heard the amazing and powerful song by Bette - Wind Beneath My Wings and the video to it had scenes from the film from it. I bought the film today and when it finished i cried for ages. It is one of the most beautiful films i've ever seen with such a great storyline played by wonderful characters. Bette Middler not only adds the lovable character of C.C, but adds her good old comedy every so often. Im my opinion, this is one of the greatest films ever made, it makes you think about that one best friend that you had when you were little, and wonder, if you still don't talk to them, what life would be like. A+ film, Would recommend a buy or rental of it!