Directed by: Garry Marshall
Starring: Bette Midler, Barbara Hershey, John Heard, Spalding Gray, Mayim Bialik, James Read, Lainie Kazan
Up until the final half hour, I enjoyed Beaches despite its flaws, cliches, and Bette Midler bogarting screen time for full musical performances. This happened at least four times, but who's counting? The last half hour was set up for a walloping tear-jerking ending, but I was left ambivalent toward the events. I didn't expect the impact of a Love Story or Ghost ending, but I expected to feel something. The experience of watching Beaches is ultimately frustrating, because many times it threatened to work even though nothing in it should surprise anyone.
Beaches tracks the 30-year friendship of CC Bloom (Midler) and Hillary Whitney (Hershey), who meet as pre-adolescent girls in 1957 Atlantic City. CC is a budding stage performer from the Bronx who auditions for a role in a local musical. Hillary, originally from San Francisco, is on vacation with her family. They take an instant liking to each other and become pen pals over 10 years. I hope there some phone calls mixed in also.
They meet again after years of correspondence in the Bronx. Hillary became a lawyer and has abandoned her stuffy California life, while CC struggles to launch her singing career. They move in together and become best of friends. Their friendship is tested by the arrival of a fledgling theater director named John (Heard) whom they both have the hots for. Hillary lands him first, but then conveniently moves back to California and he and CC marry just as conveniently. CC outgrows John, who is content on being a small theater director, as her career takes off. She lands a Broadway lead role in a play about bras. Yes, bras. You would think such a production would close in one night, but in a Producers-like twist, it is "held over for a second smash year." Hillary marries a snobby lawyer who may as well be wearing a sign that reads, "I'M CHEATING ON YOU!"
The two have an inevitable fight which keeps them apart for a while. CC writes letters to Hillary which are returned to sender. A phone call or two would certainly save on the postage and writer's cramp. They reconcile as CC's career hits a snag in a pretty effective scene. The performances of both Midler and Hershey elevate the film's soap opera tendencies. The film opens with CC rehearsing for a show at the Hollywood Bowl. She receives a phone call (presumably about Hillary) and drops everything to go and be with her. Hillary is ill with a heart disease of some kind which in no way affects her physical beauty. Hillary's daughter and CC kinda sorta get along, but we know that they will be conciliatory once Hillary's inevitable demise occurs.
Maybe that is why Hillary's death (and I'm sure I'm not spoiling anything) lacks such dramatic impact. It is telegraphed in the beginning of the film and made perfunctory by the time it actually happens. We also know the film will end with a Bette Midler number. She's a good singer, sure, but do we really have to stop the movie so she could belt one out? The pity is, the song most associated with Beaches, The Wind Beneath My Wings, is played over the soundtrack. I would not have minded seeing Midler sing that one. It may have had added some goose bumps.
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