Chris joined the Women’s Institute because its what her mother wanted, but now that her mother has passed on she finds the organization quite dull and boring. From lectures on broccoli to that of jam there just doesn’t seem to be much excitement going on. That’s why occasionally she tries to liven things up and bring levity to the whole organization. Annie has been her best friend as long as they both can remember and Chris suggests that her husband John come speak on his passion: flowers. But at about this time John becomes terminally ill from leukemia and passes on leaving a large whole in all their lives. But before John passed away he did write his speech for the WI and about how he believes women like flowers grow more beautiful as time progresses. This gives Chris a great idea that her and Annie and their fellow members of the WI could do a calendar to raise money so they can get a new sofa in the waiting room of their local hospital to honor John’s memory. But the calendar is not the traditional calendar of the WI but rather a nude calendar that would be done as art. Her friends are reluctant in the beginning but the calendar proves to be a great success that allows for John to be remembered. So this is the true but slightly fictionalized story of 11 middle-aged women, ages 45 to 60, from the small village of Rylstone in Yorkshire, England who posed naked for the annual calendar of local branch of the Women's Institute and raised more money than they could have ever dreamed of.

I have to admit a lot of British humor goes right over my head but that does not mean that I cannot enjoy a hilarious British romp, which this movie is. The movie is a little slow in the beginning as I think they try and make sure American audiences get and understand a lot of the nuances of the women and to setup the characters, which are the complete opposites of what Hollywood usually churns out. But once the movie gets going it proves to be incredibly funny and universal as far as American and British audiences will both most likely laugh equally as hard. The movie also does get a little dramatic as it delves into the friendships of Chris and Annie and the effects the calendar and all the publicity does for their lives and friendship. I think sometimes we too easily fit movies into certain categories and some people might avoid this type of movie because of such stereotypes but they shouldn’t, as this movie is very funny and very entertaining. Sometimes the genres and stereotypes work but others like in this instance a movie breaks all those genres and manages to please multiple audiences and not just some minority. If you are looking for a movie that will please both genders while being entertaining and very funny this movie is a must see as it succeeds on multiple layers from gender to nationality and does a splendid job of telling the humorous story of a few ladies who broke all the bonds to do something worthwhile.
4 stars out of 5