By: debbie lynn elias
Deliciously ditzy and delightful, “The Banger Sisters” is an absolute joy. Although not a screenwriting masterpiece, Bob Dolman, as both writer and in his directorial debut, clearly (and intelligently) relies on the energy and effervescence of the film’s stars to overcome any shortcomings the film may have, the result of which is one of the late highlights of the summer’s film crop and a strong lead into fall film madness.
Starring Goldie Hawn and Susan Sarandon, “The Banger Sisters” is the story of Suzette and Vinnie, best friends and legendary groupies to such rock ‘n roll heavyweights in the ‘60’s as Jim Morrison and Frank Zappa, and the divergent, yet similar paths, their lives have taken since their glory days. Suzette has not quite made it to the 21st Century, struggling to stay part of the rock world as a bar tender on the Sunset Strip at the world famous Whiskey-A-G-Go. Unfortunately, new corporate owners of the club fail to see the virtues of exuberant and good-looking youthful maturity, and fire her. Having lived with the fly-by-the-seat-her-pants coda, this little career upset leaves Suzette broke with nowhere to live and no where to turn, but to her old pal Vinnie. Hopping into her pick-up, Suzette heads east to Phoenix where she finds Vinnie, who now goes by her given name of Lavinia, mired in a stifling upper middle class life with a mansion, an attorney husband and two spoiled teenaged daughters. Vinnie/Lavinia, who has never told her family about her younger days (after all, mothers never had lives before their families), is fearful that Suzette, instead of rattling rockers, will now rattle the skeletons in Lavinia’s closet, and as a result, tries to give Suzette the brush off. Refusing to be ignored and determined to clear the cobwebs from Lavinia’s mind and life, Suzette settles into the Kingsley household, imparting not only some off-beat but sage wisdom but bringing some light and laughter into their staid and stuffy existence.
Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush comes along for the ride as the slightly psycho wannabe screenwriter, Harry, who is picked up by Suzette on her way to Phoenix in exchange for gas. Although an unnecessary character to the storyline, Rush, best known for his dramatic turns in “Shine” and “Quills”, proves himself a gifted physical comedian and exudes an obvious playfulness and joy in his scenes with Hawn that we have not seen from him previously. Robin Thomas comes into the fray as Lavinia’s attorney husband Raymond. Unfortunately, his character also comes across as superfluous to the plot and Thomas spends of the time standing around waiting for dialogue that never comes, looking like a fish out of water. Dolman wasted some golden opportunities for comedic elements here between Thomas and Sarandon. Take it from me, there’s nothing like the chain reaction that occurs when a guy finds out that you had a very different life before him and the fact that it involved numerous encounters with the rich and famous, the rock ‘n rollers, the headliners of the day, only adds to the laugh potential.
Erika Christensen and Eva Amurri are perfectly cast as the Kingsley daughters Hannah and Ginger and none moreso than Amurri, Sarandon’s daughter in real life, who plays spoiled brat Ginger to the hilt.
But, this film is really all about Hawn and Sarandon, both of whom are at the top of their game. Their chemistry together is so electric, yet at ease, that it tops even that of Sarandon and Geena Davis in the quintessential female bonding flick of all times, “Thelma & Louise.” However, it’s Hawn who takes her character, and the film, and runs with it. With that infectious giggle and energetic exuberance, it’s hard to believe she’s 57. In her best role since “Private Benjamin”, Hawn’s Suzette shows us all that she’s still that same laughable, lovable, and goofy “Sock-It-To-Me” girl from “Laugh In”, but now with the added dimension of a certain amount of naivety mixed with an unquenchable thirst for life and a mature understanding of who she is, where she’s been and what life is really all about. Sarandon is equally as excellent and yes, even goofy, as Vinnie as she comes to grips with what she has become and then tries to balance her past with her present with a lot of laughter along the way.
Charming, laughable, entertaining and enjoyable. You will get a bang out of “The Banger Sisters.”
