That Last Call At Murray's (2016) was directed and co-written by women should surprise nobody. The females, who comprise half the diverse cast if one includes a homosexual male with their numbers, lean strongly toward liberal feminist attitudes. The female characters reflect feminist views of the female population. None of the characters who appears onscreen is under thirty and all but one are a tad overweight. Two are mothers. By contrast, two of the male cast members are young and muscular. Two of the females get naked, but the camera avoids showing their bodies.
This is a female-centric universe, where everybody is safe within a sort of home, with all the world's troubles locked away outside. Women can be mean-spirited and vengeful, or controlling and insecure, but their actions are considered normal and acceptable. Women understand men and can psychoanalyze them at a glance. Older women are attractive to younger men, but older men who are attracted to younger women are disdained. Age, excess weight, emotional issues and children from prior relationships are no impediment to new romances. A woman who ends a relationship has no shortage of suitors eager to fill the gap in her life.
Beyond the feminist tilt, the plot is contrived with numerous coincidences and deus ex machina resolutions. Performances are good. Production values are more than adequate. It has its moments, but often seems like the way women want the world to be, not how it really is.
This is a female-centric universe, where everybody is safe within a sort of home, with all the world's troubles locked away outside. Women can be mean-spirited and vengeful, or controlling and insecure, but their actions are considered normal and acceptable. Women understand men and can psychoanalyze them at a glance. Older women are attractive to younger men, but older men who are attracted to younger women are disdained. Age, excess weight, emotional issues and children from prior relationships are no impediment to new romances. A woman who ends a relationship has no shortage of suitors eager to fill the gap in her life.
Beyond the feminist tilt, the plot is contrived with numerous coincidences and deus ex machina resolutions. Performances are good. Production values are more than adequate. It has its moments, but often seems like the way women want the world to be, not how it really is.
