Synopsis: Lavinia and Suzette, former rock groupies and best friends, reconnect after 20 years; one is still as wild as ever, while the other has adopted a more conservative lifestyle.

Now for the Zone's Eye View:

By Laura Alber

Director: Bob Dolman

Cast: Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, Erika Christensen, Robin Thomas, Eva Amurri

You just gotta love Goldie! She hasn't aged a day since "Laugh In" and it's nearly impossible to see that beaming smile and not smile along with her. Insert Susan Sarandon, another beauty who exudes sex appeal and you have a duo of 50-somethings that no other actress could have pulled off. The beauty of the women and the chemistry they have working together make "The Banger Sisters" a hit. I could even envision the two of them as ex-groupies in real life - now, that's good casting!

What is so good about "The Banger Sisters" is the fact that they don't glamorize the actual "duties" of groupies, but show that as much as the bands may consider how funny it is to use women - the women are using them right back. Not for any fame or fortune, just for the fun of it. Plus, we see how close of a friendship the two women once had and see that bond rekindled. 

"The Banger Sisters" begins with Suzette (Hawn) still the once famous groupie losing her job at the 'Whiskey-a-Go-Go'. Desperate for money, and realizing how alone she really is, Suzette decides to take a road trip to Phoenix to see Lavinia (Sarandon), and to casually ask for some money. Suzette doesn't get too far when she runs out of money and gas. It is at this point when the obsessive compulsive Harry (Geoffrey Rush) offers to pay for gas for a ride to Phoenix. He couldn't take the bus any longer after a bad experience with two flies "fornicating" on the back of his hand. You name the phobia, he's got it. Suzette tries to loosen Harry up during the ride, but is unsuccessful. He does finally tell her the real reason he is going to Phoenix, which I'll keep that part quiet!

Suzette drops Harry off at his hotel and heads for Lavinia's house. Once she sees this completely different person standing in the yard and her perfect family, perfect house and seemingly perfect life, she loses her nerve and goes back to Harry's hotel room to crash. This of course disrupts all of Harry's routines and invades his space, but he soon learns to deal with it. After a couple hours of sleep, Suzette tries to quiet down the kids from the prom who have taken over the hotel hallway. She then spots Lavinia's daughter Hannah (Erika Christensen) completely lit on some kind of drug. She finally gets from Hannah that she dropped acid and mixed the red and white making her violently ill. Suzette stays up with her all night helping her through it and then drives her home the next morning. As she pulls in, Suzette gets the third degree from Lavinia, who didn't even know she was in town. The two looked at each other with disapproval and Suzette went back to the hotel intending on returning to Los Angeles. 

Things do finally come together and Suzette and Lavinia remember the "good old days", while Harry has become somewhat infatuated with Suzette and is finally inspired to write. We eventually find out that Lavina has lost herself along the way, to the suburbs and garden clubs, and is completely at a loss for her true self. Suzette helps her through this difficult transition. One of the funniest scenes during their gab sessions, involves a batch of Polaroid's of different rock stars, which they refer to as the "rock cock collection". They have a blast looking at the pictures and trying to figure out "who" belongs to each picture! Of course, this is when they get walked in on by Lavinia's husband and kids! The two women frantically and hysterically try to hide the pictures before anyone can see what's actually on them, but to no avail. 

The writing and direction by Bob Dolman is superb, but there's no doubt about it, its Hawn and Sarandon's flick through and through. Both can deliver a line so perfectly, whether it's meant to be sincere, funny or emotional. Dolman also adds a very true to life dysfunctional family to Lavina's home, which adds to the thoroughness of the movie, every detail is handled brilliantly. Rush is a definite bonus. His performance is just amazing. I don't think I've ever been disappointed with him in anything so far and this is definitely no exception. "The Banger Sisters" is definitely worth the rental or purchase price for a good laugh fest. The Zone rates this flick a 6 out of 10. 

The DVD is presented in both an anamorphic widescreen transfer as well as a fullscreen version the transfer is very clean and colors are vivid. The DVD contains a 5.1 channel Dolby Digital audio track as well as Dolby Surround language tracks in French and Spanish. 

Extras:

-Commentary track by director Bob Dolman: Includes a lot of information about the production, the cast and the story itself. 

-A 'First Look' HBO promo featurette 

-A blooper reel: Very cute considering it's Goldie Hawn and her giggles. A fun segment to watch.

-Film Trailers: Several Banger Sisters promo trailers.