Origin and release year: United States (2022 – Moving On)

Starring: Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Malcolm McDowell, Richard Roundtree, Sarah Burns, Lauren Tom, Catherine Dent, Haaz Sleiman, Amber Chardae Robinson

Director: Paul Weitz

Screenwriter: Paul Weitz

Synopsis: Two old friends reconnect at a funeral and decide to get revenge on the widower who messed with them decades before. (IMDb)

Trigger warning: Sexual As**ult

Honestly, this film was really refreshing.

The chemistry between the two female leads Jane Fonda (as Claire) and Lily Tomlin (as Evelyn) was undeniable. They have the perfect banter and their back-and-forth is such a treat to see whenever they are on screen together. If you’re a fan of Grace and Frankie, then this film was just a delightful experience in general. It was like a reunion special but with a twist as their characters were different this time around. 

Moving On grapples with heavy concepts of loss, trauma, identity, and more. However, despite the heavy nature of the film, it has a healing property to it. 

Claire goes on a quest of getting closure from the SA she suffered years ago. She visits the funeral of her perpetrator’s wife to do so. The scene where she finally confronts Howard (played by Malcom McDowell), whilst it can be triggering to some, is so powerful because she gets that acknowledgement from him of how he has wronged her, even if by force. 

Aside from this storyline, Claire’s reconnection with her ex-husband was also beautiful to see. The way they reconnected was iconic to the maturity that can only come with age and that amount of life experience. It showed how time truly heals all, even bonds between people.

The comic relief in this film was largely thanks to Lily Tomlin’s character, and very needed might we add. Her storyline was also touching as she dealt with a lot of self-acceptance motifs.

The little boy who likes to dress up in high heels (who Evelyn tries to help get acceptance from his family) kind of reflects the reality that she is facing as well. She struggles with accepting how her life has turned out, as made obvious when she lies to Claire about where she lives and what she does. This part of the story feels uber relatable to the audience regardless of age, as it is something that we all either grapple with or fear becoming our reality in some way or another.

Whilst Moving On wasn’t a mind blowing piece of cinema, it certainly was entertaining and thought-provoking enough.

What did you think of Moving On? Let us know in the comments!