If Hustlers has you ready to watch some more female team up flicks, here are some excellent films to continue your girl power weekend.
Who would have guessed that one of the coolest films of the early 2000’s would be a remake that was boring in execution and whose purpose was an excuse for the Rat Pack to hangout? Well when you have Steven Soderbergh, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and Matt Damon involved, it isn’t that hard to believe. Ocean’s Eleven boasts one of the most impressive ensemble casts to ever be put to film. Thinking about it now, just having Clooney, Pitt, and Damon in a film together where each of them is a main character is quite impressive. Throw in the likes of Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Elliot Gould, Carl Reiner and other and you get a heist film that sets the bar for all ensemble heist films to follow. Then have an auteur director like a Soderbergh throw in his style and flare for measure and you get something very special. The lighting, the color, the production design, the camera work, and direction all added up to a sleek and a (seemingly) effortless cool. The characters are fun as well as you care about this strange collection of personalities who just want to make some hefty cash (and maybe a few more motivations thrown in). Who said you need deeper meaning and themes to create a great film? Well Ocean’s Eleven proves that you don’t really need to enjoy the perfect entertainment the film provides. (Shane Conto)
As a kid growing up, I couldn’t get enough of baseball and anything that revolved around it. That goes double for baseball films and my very favorite was and still is A League of Their Own (1992). The film takes place during WWII and America’s Pastime has been put on hold indefinitely due to men going to War. Several Team Owners decide to fill the void left by empty baseball diamonds with women ballplayers. That only encompasses a fraction of what takes place in this terrific film. The movie is chalked with great performances, laugh out loud moments, heartwarming and heart wrenching scenes alike. Director Penny Marshall knows all the ingredients necessary to create a memorable and long lasting film. The film truly feels like it takes place during the 40’s and has a fantastic score provided by the brilliant Hans Zimmer. A League of Their Own isn’t just great for a female lead film, it is simply just great period. (Joseph Vargas)
If you are like me and constantly wonder on a daily basis how Melissa McCarthy and her incredibly subjective style of humor has become so popular in modern entertainment, I would like to introduce you to the 2011 film Bridesmaids directed by Paul Feig. Admittedly, when I originally saw the film around the time of its release, I was incredibly critical of it. My original main point of critique of Bridesmaids was how this same script and its jokes would not be as funny if the film had a male-dominated cast opposed to the opposite. As I have grown older and my tastes have evolved in the eight years since my original viewing, I have recently realized that my main criticism about Bridesmaids is actually one of its biggest strengths. Moreover, comedy films lead by a female cast were virtually unheard of around 2011. It being a breath of fresh air aside, Bridesmaids made over 250 million dollars at the box office and was nominated for two Academy Awards. One only has to look to recent years to see the impact Bridesmaids made and the effect is success still has to do. The film paved the way for recent female-led comedies like Rough Night and Girls Trip to exist and succeed in modern hollywood. (Dylon Turner)
Can I just say, what a badass movie! Looking at it from an outside perspective, it really doesn’t seem like it would really work. Two prestige actresses, a director whose oeuvre is in the sci-fi field, and a Bonnie & Clyde story, without the romance. Not to mention that ending – one that could have drawn just as much hate as it did love. The two leads, Gina Riley and Susan Sarandon, are characters who you desperately want to see succeed in their lives and their ventures, even though they might not be on the wholly legal end of the spectrum. I should also mention the incredibly strong story of female friendship. It shows the highs and the lows of what it means to truly have a soul sister, someone who will have your back no matter what, and it’s inspiring really. Thelma and Louise was one of the first films I saw that really showed the extent of human empathy and ability, while also being exciting and with notes of ridiculous fun. It’s a great romp, full of action, drama and explosions of character, as well as the more common kind. If I were in that car with them, I’d happily ride off into the sunset, ready for whatever comes next. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)
When thinking of female team ups in movies, the first kind of thing that comes to mind is the scene towards the end of Avengers: Endgame. You think of triumph and positivity. The team up in Mean Girls, though has none of that – not directly at least. When Cady first joins the Plastics, she begins to lose her individuality. She slowly becomes self-obsessed and, well, mean like the rest of them. But it is because of this seemingly unfortunate team up that she gets to learn important lessons about not being ashamed of who you are and how it is important to accept others for who they are. This is not to mention this movie is incredibly hilarious and provides countless quotes that are still recited regularly to this day. An iconic movie doesn’t just happen. It has to mean something to people, and the reason this movie means something to people stems from this female team up. (Robert Bouffard)
One of the best movies from last year, “Widows” (based on 1983 British televisions series of the same name), is one that should have been seen by many more people. Viola Davis leads the cast as the group’s leader. She shows plenty of emotion when grieving for her husband in the beginning, but then becomes an unstoppable force when making sure that their plan unfolds as smoothly as possible. There’s a superb cast of supporting performances, including Michelle Rodriguez, Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Brian Tyree Henry, and Robert Duvall. However, two of the standouts are Elizabeth Debicki as a member of the group who must overcome her apprehension in order to do her part in the heist, and Daniel Kaluuya as an intimidating mob enforcer who will give you chills whenever he’s on screen. Backing up the talented cast is a story that has a lot going on besides the women’s mission. In between the heists that bookend the movie, the narrative incorporates some timely themes that deepen the story lines of the characters, making this a crime film that gets by on more than its thrills. (Vincent Abbatecola)
My fear is that I’m gonna put you in a bikini and you’ll still look like a f**king bank teller. Honestly, in 2013, I really wasn’t interested in Sandra Bullock anymore. And I didn’t love Bridesmaids but thought Melissa McCarthy was hilarious. The trailer for this movie looked really funny, but what if it is a movie where the only funny parts are in the trailer. An uptight FBI agent is paired with a loose, relaxed, foul-mouthed cop. Same story we’ve seen 1000 times, so I didn’t rush out to see this movie and this is the perfect example that you can’t judge a book by its cover. I was about to start college when this movie came out, so I saw it with my brother as a last summer kind of thing and we laughed until we cried. I came to college and found some people who watched it regularly. It became a go-to for me and my friends and that is ultimately why this movie works. It is just smart enough that it feels more than just another movie and funny and re-watchable enough that it will easily become a go-to to you and your friends. In my opinion, The Heat is Paul Feig’s best movie and Melissa McCarthy at her funniest! (Aaron Schweitzer)
And you thought I wouldn’t try to write about Mad Max: Fury Road for every single Best Ever Challenge?! This was a film that sat around in development hell for decades as fans of Mad Rockatansky waited impatiently for the follow-up to Thunderdome. But who would have thought this film would be remembered for the amazingly badass women of The Wasteland? This film features many powerful women who try to stand up to a false god who has objectified them and turned them into his slaves. Max still plays the silent and isolated hero but Imperator Furiosa stand tall alongside her sisters of the desert, The Vuvalini (you saw that right), and the escaped brides of Immortan Joe. They are brave and strong and fight for themselves. They are a group of women that girls can look up to in a film that on the surface is so masculine. You know you did a female team up film right when men’s rights groups want to boycott your film! (Shane Conto)
After Alex Garland blasted onto the scene with Ex Machina after spending almost 15 years as a writer, many people wondered what he would direct next. When that answer was Annihilation, a film adaptation of the 2014 book of the same name written by Jeff VanderMeer, I didn’t know how to respond. The first time I watched the movie, I remember saying that it was bland, boring and didn’t really understand the point. However, the second time I watched it, I saw a brilliant film that represented the idea of a scientific research team going into an area of scientific phenomena deemed “Area X” and how the research affected every member of the scientific expedition that highlights the true horrors of what happens psychologically in an unwinnable situation…among other things. So, if you’re ever in the mood for a film that will blow your mind more and more each time you watch it, check out it out on Prime Video, Hulu or Epix. (Austin Belzer)
I am writing about Pitch Perfect on a list of female team up films…can you aca-believe it? Will that be the last “aca” based joke I make in this blurb? You will have to read to find out! This is definitely a light-hearted jaunt into the world of acapella that really captures the youth of that time (WAY back in 2012). This was a franchise that really helped launch the careers of big named talent including Anna Kendrick and Rebel Wilson. If you love acapella music, sick burns, and a story where people in acapella groups are the cool kids on a college campus, this is the film for you. They have fun with the music and the comedically talented young cast really makes this Elizabeth Banks produced film work. Speaking of Elizabeth Banks, who could have predicted that the film would be stolen by the acapella announcers played by Banks and John Michael Higgins? Their cruel and biting commentary is endlessly hilarious and works so well in this cheeky film. So next time you want a film that really makes you feel the girl power but without guns and kicking ass, Pitch Perfect will be your go to. (Shane Conto)
Honorable Mentions
Pitch Perfect 2
Pitch Perfect shocked me with how good it was back in 2012. It was hilarious, original, sweet, and above all else charming. A sequel was inevitable, but could it live up to the original? If I’m being totally honest with myself, it didn’t really; however, it’s still a very cute and charming movie that packs a lot of laughs. I could watch Rebel Wilson and Adam DeVine play off each other all day. The hilarious chemistry between these two is the spark that puts the film over the edge for me. The real zingers however come from Elizabeth Banks and John Micheal Higgins who are the comedic heartbeat of this stellar sequel. (Ben Davis)
Ghost Busters 2
It’s been 29 years since Ghostbusters 2 came onto the screen, and there wasn’t any remakes or reboots until 2016 when we got the female-led reboot. It wasn’t easy for the audience to get over, but it still came out. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones take over as the leads to start a ghost-catching business in New York City with their dimwitted assistant, Kevin, played by the scene-stealing Chris Hemsworth. The film is full of laughs, ghosts, and cameos from the original cast. The film was a box office bomb because of the backlash of the all-female cast. However, It was still a good film and shows that anyone can fight ghosts and save the world. (Chantal Ashford)
Also See:
Girls Trip, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, 9 to 5, Whip It, Bend it Like Beckham, Waiting to Exhale, Mystic Pizza, Little Women, First Wives Club Bring it On