Take two much-loved British actresses, put them in scenarios that could have been ripped from an ‘Inbetweeners’ movie and you’ll get ‘The Time of their Lives’. Joan Collins (Alexis from ‘Dynasty’) stars as a fierce, washed up Hollywood actress who flees her old people’s home to go to a funeral in France. Pauline Collins (‘Shirley Valentine’) plays her warm but downtrodden partner in crime. Together they find a new lease of life on an impromptu road trip on the Continent.
The journey sees them challenge ageist and sexist stereotypes with scenes involving stealing cars, smoking weed and having casual sex. On the surface it’s all fun and games, but lurking below are themes of controlling husbands, failed life choices and, above all, death. This film should be like a ‘Shirley Valentine’ sequel but unfortunately falls a little flat. It’s badly paced, has too many plotlines crammed in and gives Joan’s character one-liners that come off as mean rather than Alexis-sassy. Both she and Pauline Collins deserve better.