Date watched: June 27, 2022
Date Reviewed: July 7, 2022
Review
I’d been wanting to see this film ever since I saw the trailer and even though it took me until the final session – I got there in the end!
The session I went to was sold out and while I saw a few men the majority of the audience were women, and women across a number of generations, which was a really fantastic experience to be a part of.
How to Please a Woman is a relatable comedy that will have you laughing out loud. Renee Webster, who wrote and directed the film, has done a fabulous job of representing all types of different women on screen and delivering a charming story.
Sally Phillips does a wonderful job in the lead role of Gina, a woman of fifty who is stuck in a marriage where the romance has fizzled out and in a job where she is under appreciated and soon made redundant from a day after her birthday. An idea then sparks following a birthday present of a male escort from her friends – a cleaning service provided by shirtless men! It doesn’t take long before sex is also added to the menu.
It was a great feeling to be in a cinema with other women laughing and reacting to the same things. It was equally interesting to see different reactions people had.
The cast is full of Australian talent that most will recognise across the big and small screen, too many to name individually, so I’d encourage you to check out the cast listing provided above. It’s a great ensemble that all work together on screen very well.
As much as the film is about reclaiming one’s sexual pleasures later in life, it’s also a story of empowerment. To go after what makes you happy instead of waiting around for things to happen or change and to not be ashamed of whatever that is.
I think the backdrop of Gina being part of an open-water swimming group is a great metaphor to this – sometimes you need to push through some pain and the struggles to feel truly free.
This is a film that both women and men will find enjoyment in and perhaps learn a little something about themselves from.
My only regret is not seeing this sooner so that I could encourage you all to see it at the cinema! So keep an eye out for the DVD release this month and make the time to bring a little pleasure into your life.