By: Danyal Somani

Book Club: The Next Chapter follows the friends from its predecessor: Vivian (Jane Fonda), Carol (Mary Steenburgen), Diane (Diane Keaton), and Sharon (Candice Bergen).  In this next instalment, they travel to Italy for Vivian’s bachelorette party.  However, with the sudden inclusion of an old flame (Vincent Ricotta) and a persistent police chief (Giancarlo Giannini), the trip doesn’t go according to plan.

Despite not having seen the 2018 original, issues aside, I did end up enjoying Book Club: The Next Chapter.  The chemistry between the four leads is what really carries this sequel.  The audience can really believe the five-decade-long friendship, and the camaraderie elevates a somewhat predictable plot.  By the end, I couldn’t help but smile. 

However, the performances can’t always save the comedy.  Some jokes don’t always land well, and there were too many innuendos.  The latter pushes the bounds of the PG-13 rating, which could make it “interesting” for movie goers who are seeing the movie for its Mother’s Day weekend release. The pacing also feels long and uneven, which could’ve been avoided if most of the story’s tension didn’t occur near the end of the film.

Book Club: The Next Chapter is an adequate flick that may be better viewed, casually, on a streaming service or as a digital rental rather than making the trip to the theatre.

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Danyal Somani: @DAS_1011