‘Book Club: The Next Chapter’ review – The fantastic foursome escapes to Italy in this messy romantic comedy

At the height of the pandemic, virtual gatherings and, yes, book clubs became places where people found solace amidst the chaos and isolation. Book Club: The Next Chapter resumes with our fabulous foursome connecting via Zoom to drink wine, check in on each other, and continue their book club, of course. Returning as director for the sequel, Bill Holderman immediately establishes the film as a feel-good comedy, playing on each actress’s strengths and public persona. For example, Vivian (a plucky Jane Fonda) signs off early to bang her pots and pans to thank the healthcare workers, playing on Fonda’s activism. Meanwhile, the quirky Diane (Diane Keaton) can’t figure out how to turn the cat face filter off on Zoom, calling to mind the eccentricities of Keaton’s own Instagram account. In another movie, remembering the bizarre online meet ups and daily activities of early 2020 could feel like too much too soon or the opposite of what you’d want to see from a movie that’s supposed to be a fun escape. However, the opening scenes are so funny that you get pulled right back into spending time with this charismatic ensemble, understanding why these women desperately need to reunite and take a once in a lifetime vacation. Even though Book Club: The Next Chapter starts strong and includes plenty of fun moments between the four magnetic legends at the center of the story, I wish the film itself was worthy of their talents.    

Since the first film, each of the four women have experienced significant life changes that inspire them to leave home to find adventure together. Carol (a warm, delightful Mary Steenburgen) tends to her husband, Bruce (Craig T. Nelson), who recently had a heart attack, and adjusts to her restaurant closing as a pandemic casualty. Sharon (Candice Bergen) has retired from her position as a Federal Court Judge. Diane adjusts to life with her boyfriend Mitchell (Andy Garcia), who she now lives with. Despite swearing off the label and institution of marriage, Vivian decides to get married when Arthur (Don Johnson) proposes. Spending lockdown with Arthur in his New York apartment made her realize she could spend her life with him. When the world starts to open up again, Carol reminds the women of a trip they planned to take to Italy in their twenties. Now that Vivian is engaged, a bachelorette party is a perfect excuse to leave the country for their Italian holiday 40+ years in the making. 

This time, our titular book club has parted ways with Christian Grey, opting instead for a much tamer bestseller, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist. Much like Book Club, the film is thankfully more concerned with the connections between our characters than the novel they’re supposedly reading. The book, instead, is used as a thematic guide to show the audience what’s preoccupying the minds of these four women. So, after reading a book about fate and discovering life’s purpose, it’s only natural that they would take a trip to discover what treasures await. The connection to the novel’s themes is very loose, but it doesn’t really matter anyway. This film often feels like it was created just so that the cast and crew could spend time together in Italy. It’s almost comical then, when themes or quotes from the book are mentioned as if to remind the audience that the filmmakers didn’t forget that the series is called Book Club, after all. 

Once they arrive in Italy, misadventures and misfortunes follow that call to mind movies like Bridesmaids, The Hangover, and even The Lizzie McGuire Movie. However, they take every unbelievable thing that happens to them in stride, not even batting an eye when their luggage is stolen at the train station. While many of these scenes and their reactions to them feel silly, suspending your disbelief is always critical to enjoying escapist romantic comedies. One of the best early scenes in the film occurs when the women have a private appointment at an atelier for Vivian to choose a wedding dress. There’s a reason this is a tried and true trope of the genre, and it’s even more rewarding to see four actresses in their seventies trying on couture wedding gowns that make them feel good. It’s also the perfect moment for fans of Keaton, known not just for her acting chops but for her iconic personal style. Her collaboration with costume designer Stefano De Nardis incorporates her signature smart suiting, hats, and Annie Hall-inspired looks into her character’s wardrobe. When she tries on a perfect wedding set that includes a turtleneck, it calls to mind when Harry chides Erica for wearing turtlenecks in the summer in one of Keaton’s classics, Nancy Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give. 

The screenwriters (Bill Holderman and Erin Simms) may have left Fifty Shades of Grey in the first film, but Book Club: The Next Chapter has more sex jokes than a teen comedy. The film can’t resist the inclusion of multiple innuendos related to meatballs or opportunities to comment on the well-endowed statues. While the zippy one-liners don’t always land, it’s impossible not to laugh along with the characters. The women and their relationships with each other are still the strongest aspect of the story. Still, two new men are introduced to the mix while they’re on their Italian adventure. Carol reconnects with her lost love Gianni (Vincent Riotta, Under the Tuscan Sun) from culinary school, who left the U.S. to return to Italy. One of the most outlandish scenes in the film involves Steenburgen and Riotta quoting Casablanca and making pasta together. Meanwhile, Sharon meets Ousmane (Hugh Quarshie), a man who is determined to make her Italian vacation as memorable as possible. Bergen steals the show with her particular brand of dry humor and commitment to her character’s joie de vivre post-retirement.  

The film can sometimes feel overly sentimental and corny, with distracting CGI and absolutely unbelievable scenarios. Still, it’s difficult not to enjoy spending time with these charming actresses who remind you why they’ve been icons in the film industry for decades. It’s easy to imagine a version of this movie dumped directly onto a streaming service with younger, less talented actors at the helm. Instead, Fonda, Keaton, Bergen, and Steenburgen give the film the jolt of charisma it needs. The life lessons of self-discovery and embracing the spontaneity of life come through in the film, but a sharper script and more dynamic direction could have better served these actresses. While Book Club: The Next Chapter doesn’t add anything new to the romantic comedy genre, it will still be one of the most enjoyable summer escapes for audiences. 

Grade: C+

Focus Features will release Book Club: The Next Chapter only in theaters on May 12.