Women in trouble (2009)

Women in trouble (2009) Really nice! You might say that Women in Trouble is of absolutely no interest, apart from the superb plasticity of its actresses! Here they are: Carla Gugino, who plays X rated actress Elektra Luxx, has appeared in This Boy’s Life (1993), Night at the Museum (2006), Watchmen (2009), Elektra Luxx (2010), of course, Sucker Punch (2011) and Gerald’s Game (2017). Emmanuelle Chriqui is in Die In A Gunfight (2021), Hospitality (2018), Elektra Luxx (2010) and Wrong Turn (2003). She is also in the new series ‘Superman & Lois’. Yes, another one! As for Adrianne Palicki, she is also in Elektra Luxx (2010), but also in Red Dawn (2012), G.I. Joe – Conspiracy (2012) and in John Wick (2014). Connie Britton starred in the disastrous Professor Marston & The Wonder Women (2017), but was also part of the incredible cast of the very good Scandal (2019). She was also in the film Breaking (2022) and certainly in the first season of American Horror Story. We don’t see much of Marley Shelton here, unfortunately, but she was also in the slasher Valentine (2001) and the horror-comedy Grindhouse – Planet Terror (2007). She’s also been in Solace (2015), Rampage (2018) – with the giant devastating creatures, but crazy sniper movie – and Scream 5 (2022).

At first I thought that the production here was shoddy, just like the script. But then I read this comment that got me thinking: “Finally, a film with a REAL screenwriter. It’s understandable that those expecting an X-rated film will be disappointed, but there are cinemas for that. The dialogue and interactions are razor-sharp. A masterpiece of sensitivity and humour, despite the rather dry ending.”

A porn starlet, a shrink, a student or an adoptive mother, all these women are played with talent, but there’s one thing that stands out for me about this story: the dynamism of the first half, which is dynamic and sincere, with seamless sequences… before the second half becomes softer and more tiresome, despite the fact that the acting is still top-notch. But the film did run long, making it less fluid. More than a comic tale and fake romance, it’s a social story about these women with very different everyday lives.

As for Simon Baker (the famous Mentalist!), his role was just a blip on the radar, an appearance in the form of an extra in a few scattered scenes, with no major consequences for the story, given that the women do the talking. The same goes for Josh Brolin and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Those who want to see the film for this trio of men will be more than disappointed.

So I’ll remember the first forty-five minutes most of all, and I think I’ll easily forget the rest of it, while clearly praising Adrianne’s interminable script in front of her masseuse. What makes a film with beautiful women like this better than another, like Room in Rome (2010), is undoubtedly the dialogue, as far as I’m concerned. An intelligent comedy with a not very rich script, but a gallery of interesting and totally unlikable characters! Which makes for some truly hilarious moments.