AlthoughThe First Wives Clubis meant to serve as a celebration of female friendship, a cut love story was unfortunately detrimental to the movie’s plot. In one ofDiane Keaton’s best roles, Annie MacDuggan, who has been a pushover throughout the movie, finds the strength to reject her ex-husband, while Bette Midler’s character, the sardonic Brenda Morelli-Cushman, has the grace to forgive her ex in one ofMidler’s best movies. Goldie Hawn’s character, the actress Elise Eliot, is focused on her career, until a new younger lover is mentioned in one line at the end.
The younger lover was supposed to be played by Jon Stewart, who actually filmed several scenes that had to be cut for time (viaVogue).The First Wives Clubwould have ended on a much stronger note if Elise’s love interest had been kept in the movie. Elise, Brenda, and Annie have so much momentum in every other aspect of their lives, it would have been satisfying to see Elise find a fresh start with a new man.
The First Wives Club Would Have Been Better If It Hadn’t Cut Elise’s Love Interest
Goldie Hawn’s Character Would Have A Poignant Full Circle Moment
The First Wives Clubis about Elise, Brenda, and Annie owning the present and looking to the future, but when it comes to romance, they tend to look back. It would have been deeply satisfying to see any of the women start a brand-new romance free from baggage.The First Wives Club wouldhave been stronger if Elise’s love interest had been shown on screen instead of being mentioned in one passing line. Elise’s arc is focused on her career instead of romance, as she pivots to theater where her talent matters more than her looks.
Note:The First Wives Clubhas a TV remakewith three seasons, which can be found on BET+.
However, if Jon Stewart’s role had not been cut, this would have made a perfect full-circle moment for Elise, since her husband left her for a woman so young she was actually jailbait. While Annie and Brenda’s love lives circle back to their husbands, it would have been powerful and forward-thinking forThe First Wives Clubto show Elise having an exciting work and love life, especially with a younger man, considering a2020s movie trend features romance between an older womanand a younger man.
The First Wives Club’s Cut Love Interest Would Have Made Up For Another Character’s Story
This Character Takes Back Her Criminal & Cruel Ex-Husband
IfThe First Wives Clubhad Elise’s new lover in the movie, it would have made up for the movie’s most egregious ending: Brenda getting back together with her ex-husband, Morton “Morty” Cushman (Dan Hedaya). Over the course of the movie, Morty is dispassionate to Brenda’s post-separation financial struggles, even though their son is living with her. He allows his new girlfriend, Shelley Stewart (Sarah Jessica Parker), to make cruel comments about Brenda’s body in front of her without him defending Brenda at all. Moreover, Morty’s electronics business is only a success because he is cooking the books.
Bette Midler & Sarah Jessica Parker Reunited 26 Years Before Hocus Pocus 2 In This $181M Comedy & It Perfectly Reversed Their Horror Roles
Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker reunited in this comedy three years after Hocus Pocus, and their characters’ dynamics are perfectly flipped.
Brenda, who has been so spunky and so willing to call Morty out on his hypocrisy, somehow has the “happy ending” of getting back together with this criminal. It is a sad regression because Morty does nothing to win her back - nogrand romantic gesture, not even an apology - he simply grows irritated with Shelley and wanders back to Brenda on the dance floor. IfThe First Wives Clubhad given more screen time to either Morty winning Brenda back or Elise finding love with Jon Stewart’s character, it would have been an even more empowering ending.
The First Wives Club
Cast
The First Wives Club is a comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, featuring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton as three middle-aged women who reunite after years apart. Upon discovering they have each been left for younger women, they band together to exact revenge on their ex-husbands. The film explores themes of friendship, empowerment, and resilience, set against a backdrop of humorous and engaging scenarios.
