Yes, “The Banger Sisters” is a chick flick, so let’s get that out of the way.
In the streets of Los Angeles, there is a part of history that time forgot about. But Suzette (Goldie Hawn) didn’t forget about the rock ’n’ roll history that swept through Southern California more than 30 years ago.
As a down and out bartender at Los Angeles’ famous Whiskey A Go Go, Suzette is holding on to lost nights with Jim Morrison, Jimmy Paige and a slew of groupies who defined the era as much as the music.
When she finally hits rock bottom, Suzette travels to Phoenix in search of money and her best friend Lavinia Kingsley (Susan Sarandon). Back in the day, the two were as thick as thieves, sleeping with whatever rock icon or groupie they could find.
But one day things changed. Lavinia grew out of the life she had once led to start a family and political career.
Suzette hasn’t changed at all and when the two see each other for the first time in 16 years, the chemistry just isn’t there.
When confronted with how much she has changed, Lavinia snaps out of her suburban coma for one more night of visceral fun with her Banger sister, the nickname given to her by Frank Zappa.
After she comes to grips with who she was, Lavinia has to tell her husband and two teenage daughters what she was like 30 years ago.
While “The Banger Sisters” tries to convey the message not to let your life pass you by, it still has no answer for staving off old age.
Lavinia realizes in the end that she didn’t let life pass her by, but family life changed the woman she was. Her role as mom, wife, cook and public figure left no room for Lavinia the groupie.
People change. Rocky did. And so did Drago and the Russians in Rocky IV.
That’s what makes writing movies so easy. As long as you have change, there will be a story. Lavinia became the protagonist when she let go of her current life for one more chance at being 20.
If the protagonist is the person who changes, who is the person that spurred the changed one? A catalyst? Well, that’s Suzette’s place in the story.
It’s funny how time changes people. The differences between the Banger sisters were quite evident and the source for many of the film’s jokes.
The story was filled with interesting characters played by an accomplished cast. It had its funny parts, its climax and its denouement, but lacked a buildup.
The film has its roots in the 1960s and ’70s, but much of the music that made the rock ’n’ roll era what it was is left out of the film.
There is no Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd or Mr. Mojo Risin’, to whom the film makes numerous references.
The ending saved the film from its lackluster suspense.
When we lose track of ourselves, we become fake. That point is driven home during Lavinia’s daughter’s (Erika Christensen) high school graduation speech and seems to be an appropriate lesson.
