Insight "Crush" boasts, it is in the tradition of "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones's Diary". If by that they mean its just as witty, just as much fun, just as tragic and just as entertaining as these two films, then by jingo they are right. The only way you won't get a kick out of "Crush" is if you have stopped breathing. "Crush" is a film that crosses all genders and is certainly not a film just for the "sisters". Men will certainly get a lot out of this clever film too. "Crush", shot on location in London, the Cotswolds and Paris, homes in on that decidedly unsetling period that both women and men can relate to, life at fourty something by focussing on the lives of three professional women. It also cleverly reverses the well documented role of man meets younger woman, has terrific sex, falls in love and leaves the missus, by placing one of the characters, a single fourty year old headmistress [a sad shagger], in a relationship taken up with a young man. A relationship such as this is often seen as a catalyst for disaster in real life and "Crush" reveals the impact it has on the group of friends.
Writer/Director John McKay had previously written a play about a headmistress who had an affair with a much younger man, a former pupil. She would meet up regularly with a female friend to discuss their sad lives. The screenplay took on an added depth by enlarging the group to three and it has worked well. McKay was aware that most plays have a limited life, are seen by limited audiences and run for a few weeks but a screenplay was something different. "As I began to develope the screenplay I found myself more interested in the relationship between the friends, what if the friends had a way of coping with their lives, meeting up to eat, drink and smoke too much, what if one of them embarks on an exciting affair, how do the others react." Very badly in the case of "Crush". There were many ways the thread of theme could have gone in "Crush" but in simplistic terms "It's about how badly people can behave towards each other," he explained. The end result is also how people can come back together and can survive the wrongs they inflict on each other even when they believe they are doing the well intentioned "right thing". "Crush" should appeal to a wide audience, after all it has everything, humour, tragedy, a good lashing of wicked sex and it's an even paced affair with never a dull moment. The Story Meet Kate [Andie MacDowell], forty, single, a headmistress and member of the "sad fuckers club" an elite group of three professional women which includes her closest friends Janine [Imelda Staunton] a police inspector, fourty something, single also in the "sad fuckers club" and finally there's Molly [Anna Chancellor], tall, vivacious, outspoken, a doctor no less, but alas, yes you guessed it, also a member of the "sad fuckers club". The club meets weekly to eat, drink, hit the fags [smoke to the un-informed], tell tales of their recent encounters with men and vote on who will win the award as the "Saddest Shag of the Week". Their lives really are pretty sad but all that is about to change. When Kate attends the funeral of a friend she is quite taken by the organist. A young man named Jed who just happens to be an ex-pupil. He certainly can play the organ as she soon discovers when they make fast and furious love in the graveyard. Kate is extatic, Jed is enthusiastic as they make love and enjoy the spontaneity of "wicked" sex with hilarious results. Inevitability her friends find out. At first it is fun, acceptable to the group, but when Kate and Jed get serious Molly and Janine decide its time for drastic action. They must save their friend. Their actions are a catalyst for tearing the group apart and will bring tragedy to Kate. Can they survive alone? What of their friendships and love for each other, can it be revived? The Verdict "A delightlyfully wicked experience. "Crush" is a film many will relate to and really enjoy. And why not, after all its funny, cheeky, charming, tragic, sexy and more than hints at a relevance to todays lifestyle. Entertaining stuff!!"

What The Critics Say "This absorbing pic should be seen by all men who want to know what women say about them in their bull sessions." Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "Mixes slapstick, poignancy, tragedy and sophisticated wit." Loren King CHICAGO TRIBUNE "Ostensibly celebrates middle-aged girl power, even as it presents friendship between women as pathetic, dysfunctional and destructive." Mick LaSalle SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Enjoy Crush for what it is: a good popcorn flick for those gals who feel the approach of 40 (or 50) breathing down their neck like a bad blind date." Laura Kelly SOUTH FLORIDA SUN-SENTINEL "Limitations aside, the radiant MacDowell is well-cast." Chris Hewitt ST PAUL PIONEER PRESS The Cast Andie MacDowell Imelda Staunton Anna Chancellor Kenny Doughty Bill Paterson Caroline Holdaway Josh Cole Gary Powell Christian Burgess Morris Perry Richenda Carey Roger Booth Derek Deadman Andrew Bicknell Jeremy Gittins ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Kate Janine Molly Jed Rev Gerald Marsden Pam PC Blake Sergeant Kate's Frenchman Bishop Lady Governor Hearty Governor Little Crematorium Man Mr Yacht Mr Horse Directed by John McKay Writen John McKay Run Time 115 minutes Rated M15+[AUST] Copyright©2002 - Becker Entertainment - All Rights Reserved

Copyright©2002 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved