Ladies of the House (2008) (TV) More at IMDb Pro »

Years ago, there were women's pictures (sometimes called "weepers") and more recently there have been "chick flicks" and I suppose this movie could be categorized as such, but to do so would be to overlook some very fine male performances, particularly by Lance Henricksen as "Frank" and Gordon Thomson as "Richard." Richard Roundtree was under-utilized; he made the most of his under-written character and has one very fine scene towards the end of the picture. But his relationship with his wife "Birdie" (wonderfully played by the very talented Pam Grier) would make a terrific picture or television series by itself. Florence Henderson offers a very fine performance and Donna Mills does what she can with her all-too-familiar character of society wife. There is so much more to Donna Mills than beautiful, wealthy blonde parts, and this role is a good beginning for her to more-fully explore her talent. What I found refreshing about this movie is that it while it covers the ground of aging people's concerns, it does so in a realistic way, without too many pat, completely resolved by the end of the movie answers and without that annoying and unnatural "balance" of fresh, beautiful young characters to (I suppose) hold the interest of a younger audience. This movie might not appeal to a young audience, but if young people were to look at the subject matter as a metaphor for how to proceed in life in an uncertain world, I think they too might find it entertaining.