Queen Bees (2021) Poster

(2021)

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7/10
Is that a Squirrel??? Ha hahahaha ;D
midnitepantera21 June 2021
Super cute movie, while not realistic when it comes to senior care homes, wish it was but, (that's what movies are supposed to do, give us hope). All the main characters both men and women were Hilarious and I love Burstyn's attitude toward life and people (cause I'm the same way, I don't own a Welcome Mat, but I have a sign on my door that says, "Be Nice or LEAVE!!") I refuse to suffer FOOLS and love that about Burstyn's character. Jane Curtin is a wonderful kind of NASTY GIRL, and Loretta Devine and Ann Margaret were just Lovely. Caan and Lloyd were both just Charming. Fun movie, worth a watch. We should be so lucky to be in that good of shape in our mid and late 80's. ;o.
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7/10
A fine rom com for the Elderly for a change
tm-sheehan8 February 2022
My Review - Queen Bees

My Rating 7/10

You wouldn't expect an Academy Award winning 6 time nominated actress like Ellen Burstyn who also has a Tony and two Primetime Emmys making her one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting " to accept a dud film script and Queen Bees is certainly no dud .

It's a funny sensitive story about 4 mature age women negotiating the trials and tribulations of the many changes of longevity that if we're lucky enough to get there we may all experience.

Todays Cinema rom com movies are mostly aimed at younger audiences so it's great to see a quality mature age romance comedy.

Set mostly at The Pinegrove Retirement Complex Ellen Burstyn as Helen Wilson a very independent widow is experiencing some problems living alone.

Helen and her daughter Laura have a strained relationship but eventually Helen and her family decide through upsetting circumstances that their spirited and strong willed mother and much loved Grandmother to Peter played delightfully by Matthew Barnes can no longer live alone .

Helen reluctantly agrees move temporarily into Pinegrove until her precious home is repaired.

Ellen Burstyn steals this film she is such an accomplished and authentic actress you believe her experiences and emotions.

Of course there are some hokey perhaps corny gags in Queen Bees this movie has heart and certainly is entertaining and worth seeing.

There's some wonderful Hollywood veterans in Queen Bees Ann Margaret as Margo still on the hunt for romance, James Caan gives a lovely performance as Dan Simpson the would be suitor of Helen. The three other Queen Bees Jane Curtain as Janet Poindexter the bitchy cranky self proclaimed leader of the bridge club , Loretta Devine as Helen's friendly Bridge partner and Marianne Muellererie as Anne make a great team.

Donald Martin has written a good script based on a story by Harrison Powell and the film is well directed by Michael Lembeck.

I thoroughly enjoyed Queen Bees and definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys good acting with no gimmicks or thrills that reflects the everyday issues that confront our precious elder generation.
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7/10
Delightful Senior Romantic Comedy
susanmnorth25 March 2023
With a powerhouse cast, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It fills all the criteria for a light romantic comedy. It's a heartwarming ride. Favourite leads Ellen Burstyn, Ann Margaret, Jane Curtin, James Caan and Loretta Devine all have their moments. While reality for many seniors homes may not be portrayed, this is a movie about the possibilities of life in those senior years. The supporting cast is fabulous! Christopher Lloyd, Alex Mapa and French Stewart offer much of the comedy and fun. If you want a light romp with strong performances and a group of seniors that range from independent to frisky to nasty, then Queen Bees will fill that need.
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Engaging and heart warming
Gordon-1128 August 2021
It's great to see a romantic comedy involving the silver population. The story is sweet, engaging and heart warming. I certainly hope I'll be able to experience such joy as the characters have.
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7/10
Sugary sweet, the only way to grow old
steven-leibson13 June 2021
This film takes you into the realm of senior living. It's a feel-good film and it's a lot of fun. We all hope to grow old comfortably, in pleasant surroundings, with great food. We also hope that if we're afflicted with cervical cancer, Alzheimers, or a stroke, that they're just minor inconveniences as portrayed in this film. In other words, this film is a light way to spend a couple of pleasant hours watching our futures as we hope they'll unfold.
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7/10
Charming
cassiewright-895201 December 2021
A self-sufficent elderly woman accidentally starts a fire in her home and has to move to a senior care center while they repair the damage. She gets on the bad side of a trio of mean girls and starts a romance with another resident.

An all-star cast of veterans such as Ellen Burstyn, Loretta Devine, Jane Curtin, Ann-Margret, James Caan, and Christopher Lloyd keep the sometimes overly cautious and sweet Queen Bees from being a total wash. It has moments of real tenderness and a few genuine laughs, but stops just short of being something truly memorable.
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7/10
the age of innocence
lee_eisenberg7 March 2023
On the one hand, it's interesting to see a movie where the protagonists are elderly women. That's the last thing that you expect to see amid Hollywood's rampant sexism and ageism, least of all in an era when they want to churn out nothing but superhero movies. On the other hand, Michael Lembeck's "Queen Bees" is too treacly in some parts to be a completely enjoyable movie. Maybe it couldn't be anything else; would we take seriously a movie in which elderly women go around kicking ass?

If nothing else, it's tolerable for its short run. With a cast that includes Ellen Burstyn, James Caan (in his final role during his lifetime), Ann-Margret, Jane Curtin and Christopher Lloyd, we can say that the movie stars the possessed girl's mom, Sonny Corleone, Tommy's mom, Prymaat Conehead and Doc Brown/Judge Doom/Uncle Fester.
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5/10
Saccharine sweet for older audiences
trinaboice18 June 2021
IN A NUTSHELL: After reluctantly agreeing to move into a senior's home, a 90-year old woman encounters a clique of mean-spirited senior women and an unexpected amorous widower. Some people are describing this movie as a mix between Mean Girls and The Golden Girls, but that's not entirely accurate.

The comedy was directed by Michael Lembeck who also brought us sugary-sweet comedies like The Santa Clause & The Santa Clause 2, Tooth Fairy, and a bunch of TV shows. I was curious about this movie because I recently moved my mother into a Memory Care facility. The people and the facility portrayed in the film are nothing like where my mother is, sadly. Everyone at my mother's place is way too old and feeble to get into the kind of trouble these characters do in the movie.

The dramedy is definitely targeted to Baby Boomers and beyond, but I still got a kick out of it. It's great to have some movies that appeal to older audiences.

THINGS I LIKED: It's great to see Ellen Burstyn. In real life, she's 88 years old. What a smile and twinkle she still has.

Fun fact: Three of the leading ladies play a character whose name is very close to her own: Ellen Burstyn plays "Helen"; Ann-Margret plays "Margot" and Jane Curtin plays "Janet." It didn't seem possible to me that SNL star Jane Curtin would be old enough to even be in a retirement home, so I had to look up her age; she's only 73 years old. The older I get, the younger that sounds!

The movie opens with delightful, chipper music which continues throughout.

The vintage cast also includes Loretta Devine, Christopher Lloyd, James Caan, and French Stewart.

You get to learn about some Filipino food from the comical massage therapist played by Alec Mapa.

There are some very touching moments that'll get you teary-eyed.

I laughed at all the walkers lining the church pews in one of the scenes. They should have actually played that up more in the film. Instead, all of the seniors are extremely mobile.

The grandson, played by Matthew Barnes is the perfect grandson any grandma would ever wish for.

I felt bad for Elizabeth Mitchell who had to play such a cranky daughter. I've always thought she was so pretty and usually has such a gentle demeanor.

There's a little twist in the story, but I don't want to spoil it for you... There is some cute humor.

Keep watching during the rolling credits for some very sweet pictures of couples who married later in life.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: If you're over 50 years old, you'll remember these stars in their hey-dey, which makes it more fun to watch them in this. Younger viewers may be mildly entertained without knowing the actors, but this film will definitely appeal more to an older audience.

It's super cheesy, but there's nothing wrong with cheesy, especially if you're old!

It's a little heartbreaking to see some of our long-time favorites get old.

The pacing changes throughout the film.

There is some edginess at the beginning with sarcastic characters, but then syrup gets dripped all over the script and things are neatly tied up with a bow.

Nobody really likes watching super old people kiss and talk about intimate relations.

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids are definitely going to be bored.

Some "mild" profanity Two of the old women get high smoking a joint.

Talk of a "tata towel" and the comment "Keep 'em high, keep 'em dry." Women will laugh and be able to relate but everyone else will be grossed out.

l!
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8/10
Wonderful actors in a fun and touching story!
jmacd-313 June 2021
This is not a "great film" in the filmic sense, but I loved it all the same.

First, it is great to see films like this getting made at all! The last time I saw something comparable with a mature cast was "The Leisure Seeker" and that was a few years ago. This gets extra marks because it is so good to see!

Second, what a cast! Seeing Burstyn performing at such an incredible level at almost 90 is so inspiring. The cast is uniformly excellent, imbuing the characters with so much more than what is merely delivered thru dialogue. There is a great scene of conflict between Burstyn and Curtin that doesn't even include any dialogue - it is all in their body language and expressions, so wonderfully unstated.

It's fairly light fare compared to Burstyn and Caan's body of work, but it is very well crafted, and is a joy to watch as a result. So nice to see a character driven film featuring older characters, reminding us that character development doesn't end!

I would recommend this to all but the most cynical.
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7/10
Sheer pleasure
globewarmer16 June 2021
Easy to be stingy about a movie like this that wears its heart on its sleeve, but I just sat through it happily feeling quite full in fact. Burstyn really is good; I chose to watch it because of her and she is rather a great actress, sounds a little hyperbolic but I think her c.v. Supports it. There is a small story about a man and woman played by Ann-Margret and Christopher Lloyd which is very touching indeed, and sugary sweet though it is for me it said more about Alzheimer's than that overblown and much lionized affair with Anthony Hopkins that takes itself so seriously but to me is non authentic and overblown. This film will last.
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5/10
Too Much Rom, Very Little Com
othersidebar13 June 2021
Have you ever made a recipe that, when you read the list of ingredients you think, wow, I like all of those, that should work together really well. So you make it following the directions and sit down to eat and something is just missing?

That's Queen Bees. Given the list of very accomplished stars, the premise, the trailer, everything should work together really well. But it doesn't. In fact, it fails... just short of miserably.

The Rom was cringeworthy. The Com was virtually non-existent. The plot twist was predictable from the very first line uttered by the character.

So sad because the recipe looked so good.
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10/10
Terrific movie
kenponagajba16 December 2021
Very funny movie can be watched by the whole family. Wonderful to see Ellen burstyn and Ann-Margret Jane curtin and James caan on the screen. Ignore the reviewers on here do yourself a favor and check this movie out.
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6/10
Ellen Burstyn Steals It
arfdawg-17 July 2021
This is a trifle of a movie whose storyline is very predictible.

The to other woman (besides Burstyn) are just OK in theor replaceable roles.

Jimmy Cahn who is a great actor seems way out of place and uncomfortable in this flick. He also may have back problems because he seems to be all hunched over and has ginormous shoulder pads in his shirts that look so weird.

The one to watch is Ellen Burstyn. She's 88 years old and is clearly a fabulous actress. And I mean fabulous. She blows Meryl Streep out of the water. Three times over.

It's a not so great movie who's only saving grace is Ellen.

One criticism: Why did they have to add so much left wing politics in this flick? Arent we sick of politics? The story didnt need it.
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1/10
Just Awful!
jazzrgal22 January 2024
This was a terrible movie. What a waste of good talent. It was so contrived and not with reality. I am a senior, and I was insulted by this movie. It makes all seniors look like they have regressed to children, and jealous children at that. Let me tell you, this is NOT the case. We are fully cognitive, intelligent human beings. Get locked out of you house constantly? Leave a key outside somewhere you can find it. Can't remember where you put the extra key? Then wear it around your neck or give a spare key to your neighbor. Come on - we're really not that feeble. And as to love and partnership, we all want love, romance and a life partner, no matter how old we are. Please stop insulting people over 55.
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No One Gets Out Alive
drednm11 June 2021
Queen Bees is a new one starring Ellen Burstyn (pushing 90) as a woman who's forced to move into a snazzy retirement facility after she burns down her kitchen. She does not want to go but she has no options. Once there, she runs into a clique of "mean girls" as though no one ever left high school. There's also a tepid romance that's not what it seems.

Enjoyable but rather pale. Story takes place in a world where no one worries about money and although health issues are mentioned, they don't stop anyone from doing anything. Maybe minus the romance this might have been more effective and more humorous. Burstyn is good (as always) as the no-nonsense ex-teacher who succumbs to romance. James Caan is startlingly decrepit looking as the swain. The mean girls are played by Ann-Marget, Loretta Devine, and Jane Curtin. There's also Eric Mapa as a physical therapist and French Stewart as the snarky administrator. Curtin comes off best among the co-stars as the ultra-mean "leader of the pack." Everyone has issues but they're all easily cleared up (or forgotten) by the end of the show.
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6/10
Getting Old is a Privilege
adrianaprsouza-6388617 August 2021
The focus on the elderly makes Queen Bees (2021) a heartwarming and fairly original romantic comedy. The plot is simple and it's predictable in general but there are some surprises in the middle of the story that add to the film and keep audience interested in it. Donald Martin, the screenwriter, also did a good job with the lines. There are nice jokes and some touching conversations in the film. A negative thing about this aspect was that some speeches didn't sound so natural. About the acting, it's delightful to see so many legendary elderly actors have the opportunity to work and it's a gift to watch them. Ellen Burstyn is very captivating, what made me connect a lot with Helen, the main character. The Queen Bees (Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine and Ann-Margret) also did a wonderful job in their respective roles. James Caan was perfectly cast as Dan, he is very charming and natural. Christopher Lloyd doesn't have many scenes but the ones in which he acts are so funny and emotional. The other support actors are all great and I highlight Matthew Barnes (Peter) and Elizabeth Mitchell (Laura Crane). Their interactions with Ellen were brilliant. Moreover, just one scene felt a little long. Overall, the edit and, therefore, the pace, was on point. Regarding the technical aspects, they are good and the set is beautiful. The retirement home is so inviting and it was well explored in the scenes. To end this, the best thing about this movie is the message inside the story and in reality, that getting old is a privilege and can be great.
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7/10
Don't believe the hype, not Mean Girls meets Golden Girls
libbysampson13 June 2021
Advertising this movie as Mean Girls meets Golden Girls and not like either one. This movie is more like the movie Poms and would have been much better if it was only about the four women like advertised but is focuses to much on the romance aspect involving the main character and not the growing friendship of the four women.
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7/10
Felt more like a soap opera. I'm 65
ladybassmaster31 July 2021
I don't know how this was filmed, but it felt more like watching a soap than a movie. Almost like someone with a video camera did it. It was very sad to see these icons in a sub-par movie. Good script but poor delivery and timing.
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4/10
The premise is good but the execution is poor
harold-819-54053111 July 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It's a movie about growing old and falling in love again. Not a bad idea, and could be inspiring. But the script is like a weak soap opera that doesn't allow the actors to do their job. The story is predictable and the script soapy. With all that said, if you are in the latter part of your life it is uplifting and touching.
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10/10
HEARWARMING
ocean_breeze1ca12 June 2021
A simple down to earth movie with a great cast. I enjoyed watching it.
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7/10
Mildly humorous sapfest
Dougmd197422 August 2021
A simplistic cute film about old people being shipped off to Shady Pines. Don't expect too much, but it's still a nice thoughtful film with a couple of guffaws thrown in.
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3/10
Disappointed
ptownmail-camera27 August 2021
I wanted to like this movie. Lots of great actors, even if they are all in the 80s...It had the potential to be a fun movie, but it just wasn't.

I laughed a couple of times, but it just didn't have any magic. It made me sad that such fine talent was wasted on such a poorly written script. It was no "Golden Girls", for sure...Luckily we got it from our library and didn't have to pay for it.
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10/10
HILARIOUS WITH MANY TOUCHING MOMENTS!
plasmapilot19 August 2021
I paid to watch this film because of the cast & I wasn't disappointed! So happy to see such great stars still providing excellent performances at their age portraying characters I can relate with. I couldn't stop laughing until some sad & serious moments that felt true to life for me. Aging well doesn't have to result in "acting our age" & might actually mean adjusting our attitude. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie & will watch again for the laughter!
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6/10
Senior's Cmedy
stevendbeard13 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I saw "Queen Bees", starring Ellen Burstyn-Interstellar, W.; Jane Curtin-The Spy Who Dumped Me, The Shaggy Dog_2006; Ann_Margaret-Old Dogs, Any Given Sunday and James Caan-That's My Boy, Get Smart_2008.

This is a comedy about senior citizens. Ellen plays a widowed woman that is living by herself. Her daughter & grandson are always trying to get her to move to a senior living facility but Ellen doesn't want to. Finally, after a kitchen accident almost burns down her house, Ellen agrees to go and stay at a senior care residence, but only until her house is repaired. Jane and Ann are residents on the welcoming committee-with Jane being not so welcoming-and James is another resident that has designs on Ellen. There are a few familiar faces-French Stewart as the facility manager and Christopher Lloyd as an amorous lady killer resident-and the usual sitcom situations that pop up, such as misunderstandings, but it is enjoyable.

It's rated "PG-13" for drug use and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 40 minutes.

It's not one that I would buy on DVD but it would be alright, as a rental.
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1/10
Should have been great
ElliottCase5 December 2021
Excellent cast. Great photography. Ridiculously poor writing that's not the least bit believable. Cliche, predictable, obvious. Overall, a big disappointment.
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