Search - Charms For the Easy Life on DVD

Fascinating character study.

Kim Foster | Goleta, CA USA | 04/09/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film surprised me in a lot of ways. The title makes it sound "fluffy" but there's a lot of punch in the story.It's about 3 strong-willed women as they live their lives and interact with each other and the world around them. The grandmother, Charlie Kate (Gena Rowlands) is the pivot of the story. She's tough but not uncaring. She knows who she is and what she wants from life. Her daughter, Sophia (Mimi Rogers), is also strong but in a different way. Margaret (Susan May Pratt) is the granddaughter, who blends the best of her grandmother and mother.There's a lot of humor in the film and a fair amount of pathos as well but it's neither a comedy nor depressing. There is a lot to admire in all 3 women and how they respond to each other and live their lives."

Charming!

V. Marshall | North Fork, CA USA | 08/12/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you love films about strong women and what they can accomplish throughout the generations this flick is for you.

The great Gena Rowlands stars as a homeopathic healer whose strength and spirit runs her town and family ragged. She compassionately treats a town of people with herbs and treatments made from love while watching over her daughter and granddaughter like a hawk. The daughter is played by Mimi Rogers, her character is a flirty frilly woman always in search of love and not very interested in medicine. The granddaughter is played very well by Susan May Pratt and she is the family member who ends up following in her grandmother's footsteps. The relationship between the grandmother and granddaughter is truly touching and inspirational. The strength of all of the women is to be admired especially because the film takes place during the 40's and WWII when women were still expected to be mothers, housekeepers and cooks rather than professional independent women on their own.

Rowlands steals this film away and will leave you wishing for a grandmother just like her. The beauty of this movie lies in the compassion and relationships in a family of women. I believe it will charm you into a new way of living.
"

Charmed, I'm sure

Denise Anne Cossa | Portland, OR | 10/29/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I stumbled across this film on a Saturday while surfing our movie channels. I was immediately interested when I saw that it was a period piece and that Gena Rowlands was in it. She has done a lot of movies lately where she is a great mom or grandmother (Hope Floats, Something to Talk About, etc.). The movie is set in the south in the early 1940's. Its a story about three strong women - Charlie Kate Birch (Rowlands), her daughter Sophia (Mimi Rogers) and her granddaughter Margaret (Susan May Pratt) and their experiences in their small town. Charlie Kate is a healer/midwife/herbalist. She is extremely independent, and a staunch feminist. She is not afraid to stand up for what is right in her opinion, which can cause problems in town from time to time, and embarrass her daughter, who is much more conservative.Charlie Kate spends most of her time helping people in the community, and her granddaughter is eager to immitate and learn from her. While she is out helping her grandmother, Margaret is asked to help wounded soldiers read and write letters. As a result of this experience she meets a young man and falls in love.I found Charlie Kate and Margaret to be the most relatable and interesting people in the film. Sophia seems to be desperate for a relationship, and petulant and demanding when it doesn?t go the way she wants. But in Mimi Rogers defense, I get the impression that this is how the character is (obviously I haven?t read the book). Gene Rowlands does not disappoint in this film. I had never seen Susan May Pratt in a film before, but I enjoyed her performance immensely. Her smile lights up the screen, and the natural curiosity of her character is infectious. Overall I thought this film was beautiful and enjoyable."

Deserves 10 Stars

L. Jerome | Silver Spring, Maryland USA | 03/21/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a truly exceptional film. Loved it from start to finish. I'm quite surprised that I had not heard of it before. It is in parts humurous, romantic, dramatic and sad. If you loved "Fried Green Tomatoes" as I did, you will enjoy this tale of Southern women from the WWII era. This is a movie that the entire family can enjoy as there was no cursing or sex.

The relationship between the three generation of women was portrayed with great honesty and affection. And although some of the men were portrayed as nitwits, in the end, it showcased two beautiful love stories.

The actress who portrayed "Margaret" has a gorgeous smile. She did an excellent job as did the rest of the cast."