Calendar Girls (2003)

74% of critics liked it
(119 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(73,133 ratings)

Nigel Cole directs the feel-good comedy Calendar Girls, based on the true story of a group of working-class British housewives who became overnight celebrities by posing for a nude calendar in order to raise more than 500-thousand pounds for a new leukemia unit. The film follows the adventures of… More Nigel Cole directs the feel-good comedy Calendar Girls, based on the true story of a group of working-class British housewives who became overnight celebrities by posing for a nude calendar in order to raise more than 500-thousand pounds for a new leukemia unit. The film follows the adventures of best friends Chris Harper (Helen Mirren) and Annie Clarke (Julie Walters), both members of the charitable Rylstone Women's Institute in North Yorkshire. After Annie's husband John (John Alderton) succumbs to leukemia, the friends are motivated to take some action. They convince the group to craft a tastefully nude calendar featuring the usual ladies' activities of gardening and baking, as photographed by the young amateur Lawrence (Philip Glenister). Despite the disapproval of the Institute's leader Marie (Geraldine James), the calendar quickly becomes a best-seller and leads the group to Hollywood. Ciaran Hinds appears as Chris' husband Rod Harper. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 48 min.
Directed By: Nigel Cole
Written By: Tim Firth, Juliette Towhidi
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 19, 2003 Limited
On DVD: May 4, 2004
Studio: Buena Vista Pictures

Critic Reviews

Hap Erstein, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
An innocent comic exercise, fueled more on charm than titillation.
Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
Amiable enough as a frothy entertainment, with darker overtones rendered with emotional effectiveness.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
The movie -- like the calendar -- moves along smoothly.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Sentimental and eccentric.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
Calendar Girls will make your day.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
Tries to be both funny and touching and and isn't enough of either.
Beth Pratt, Common Sense Media
Charming, feel-good flick. Most teens won't care.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
A rather conventional comedy, but it works with honor and spirit.
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)
Nude and loving it.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...uncomfortably familiar and thoroughly predictable...
Enrique Buchichio, Uruguay Total
Tampoco hay que ponerse demasiado exigente; (...) la película tiene su gracia y cumple con casi todo lo que promete.
David N. Butterworth, Movie Boeuf
'They dropped everything for a good cause' would seem to refer more to the filmmakers than the gutsy, middle-aged women shedding their clothes for a hospital couch.
Boyd van Hoeij, european-films.net
Though the last act is formulaic (...) this film has everything we have come to expect from a British feel-good comedy.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
If the movie seems perhaps a bit too cute and comfortable, so be it; it's a small price to pay for such sweet entertainment.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...an affable, amusing, and highly diverting piece of typical British whimsy. That all of it really happened is almost beside the point but charming in itself.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
The Full Monty with boobies. The perfect gift (or is it diet encouragement?) for Mother's Day.
Kent Turner, Film-Forward.com
Although the material is somewhat slight, Mirren and her cohorts give it weight and verve.

Read all 17 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Penelope Wilton, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie, Ciarán Hinds, Geraldine James, Jay Leno Director: Nigel Cole Summary: The members of the Knapely Women's Institute of North Yorkshire are resourceful and refined -- and… More
Cast: Helen Mirren, Julie Walters, Penelope Wilton, Linda Bassett, Annette Crosbie, Celia Imrie, Ciarán Hinds, Geraldine James, Jay Leno Director: Nigel Cole Summary: The members of the Knapely Women's Institute of North Yorkshire are resourceful and refined -- and they're about to shock the residents of their little English town with a daringly bare philanthropy project. When one of their own (Julie Walters) learns her husband has cancer, the group decides to spice up their yearly calendar fundraiser by forgoing the usual images of the Yorkshire dales and gracing the pages in the nude. My Thoughts: "I absolutely love Helen Mirren and I am a fan of Julie Walter's as well. They were great in this film. The woman are feisty, funny, inspiring, and strong. Great true life story, and kudos to the ladies for baring it all for such a great cause."
Summer W

Helen Mirren is hot.
Wahida K

A Full Monty-female style!
Craig S

Directed by: Nigel Cole. Starring: Helen Mirren, Annette Crosbie, Philip Glenister, Celia Imrie, John-Paul Macleod. Based on a true story, it follows the basic story of the group of women with added… More
Directed by: Nigel Cole. Starring: Helen Mirren, Annette Crosbie, Philip Glenister, Celia Imrie, John-Paul Macleod. Based on a true story, it follows the basic story of the group of women with added filmmaking structure, problem is it is very simplistic and cliched, but it works brilliantly as a feel-good British comedy. The story follows the true story a Women's Institute in a small town in England where a group of ladies are fed up with the dull topics they cover every month, after one of the groups husbands is diagnosed with Leukemia, they decide on doing a nude calendar for charity and in the process, become international stars. Like I said before, the problem is is that it is just a little to simplistic and it follows that same cliched formula that 100's of films follow every year, but that is the only downside. We have sharp humour, brilliant one-liners and what can only be said as brilliant top-notch performances from Helen Mirren and Julie Walters, who both add charm to the film. I certainly smiled all through the film, the humour is consistent and very sly, cheeky and certainly mature, the one-liners are hits and there are great performances to be had by all the leading females, especially Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. A charming, hilarious, feel-good comedy that just has the problem of being very formulaic and simplistic.
Candy R

Fun movie about women who what to raise money by posing for a calendar.
Rachel F

This was so cute. I really liked it.
Tom E

VERY touching and funny
Dean M

Good true-life comedy drama of a nude calendar, but these over-the-hill ladies aren't my types. The rapport between Helen Mirren and Julie Walters is perfect. This film will put a big smile on your face.
Jason S

An ok movie about old people getting naked.
Roy G

A delight, full of great one-liners, quirky character-based comedy, and two excellent lead performances from Mirren and Walters.
Leigh R

FUNNY!
Erin C

Cute movie. It was funny and pretty enjoyable.
Sunil J

Senior citizens gone wild and I loved it.
John A

After watching 'Calendar Girls' I discovered that although inspired by a true story, (of which I was unaware) almost everybody actually agreed with the idea immediately. The film, on the other hand, follows best friends Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters) as they… More
After watching 'Calendar Girls' I discovered that although inspired by a true story, (of which I was unaware) almost everybody actually agreed with the idea immediately. The film, on the other hand, follows best friends Chris (Helen Mirren) and Annie (Julie Walters) as they overcome a certain amount of opposition to get the risque calendar photographed, published and sold. I wonder whether the film could have worked as a simpler tale about some women trying to do good, or obstacles are necessary elements of cinematic narrative. Would I have found the final resolution as touching? Or the amusing jokes half as refreshing? Anyway, there are obstacles, and the director doesn't lend them too much screen time that characters simply pass us by in favour of a more dramatic plot, which is rather shy of any soap-style moments. After Annie's husband John dies of leukaemia, the women of Knapley WI decide to raise money for the local hospital through their annual calendar. Chris, however, is bored of the monotonous flower arrangements, countrside scenes, churches, bridges, cakes and jam. So, after some amusing inspiration, she suggests the members themselves pose for the calendar - artistically, of course. They will be nude, not naked. If I had to categorise 'Calendar Girls' I would probably call it a comedy-drama, and it achieves both of these aspects just above mediocrity. The humour is very quirky and British, and the drama quaint, and not subtle, but understated. Helen Mirren is hilarious as rebellious Chris, and Julie Walters great as sensible Annie. Unfortunately, none of the supporting players are well woven into the story, and their backgrounds are cliche and given less importance than they deserve. Penelope Wilton's Ruth, for example, has the chance of a sad and meaningful subplot, which is hastily reduced to comic feminism. It's a shame to see one of my favourite older actresses robbed of a chance to show off her talent. Still this is a film that doesn't struggle to make you smile and admire the real-life counterparts of the characters. The humour, and more surprisingly, the character's dilemma's, sneak up so you like them all, and care for the eventual outcome. As I said there are many obstacles, but none are overtly evil or manipulative, except the media, perhaps. The film is too charming to burst the bubbly atmosphere with a sharp needle of a character or institution that would dare stand resolutely in these girls way. The final act forgets the humour a little in favour of a pathos injected morality play, and again, it's generic, but works. It isn't too heavy or downbeat, but it affirms the friendships we have come to know and admire in the first two thirds. 'Calendar Girls' certainly has a market, and even if you're not an old British lady the film isn't a dreadful display of abrasive feminism or jokes you won't understand. It's about friendship, in it's most simple form. Of course there is nudity too, but thankfully there's plants and cakes abundant to cover up those which you'd rather not be seeing.