The First Wives Club is a 1996 comedy film that celebrates female friendship, but its cut love story had a detrimental impact on the plot. The movie follows three middle-aged women, Annie (Diane Keaton), Brenda (Bette Midler), and Elise (Goldie Hawn), as they reunite after years apart to exact revenge on their ex-husbands, who have left them for younger women.
The film’s most glaring omission is the cut love story of Elise, who is focused on her career, and her potential new love interest, played by Jon Stewart. Elise’s character arc is significant, and her new romance would have provided a poignant full-circle moment, given her ex-husband’s infidelity. The film’s themes of female empowerment and resilience would have been further amplified by Elise’s departure from her past and her embracing of a new chapter in her life.
Moreover, the film’s ending is marred by Brenda’s decision to reunite with her ex-husband, Morton “Morty” Cushman, despite his lack of care for her well-being. This decision is particularly jarring, given his dispassionate treatment of her post-separation financial struggles and his decision to reunite with her only after growing tired of his new girlfriend.
If Elise’s love story had been left in, it would have made up for this narrative misstep and provided a more empowering ending. Additionally, it would have been a powerful commentary on the changing times, as a 2020s movie trend features romance between an older woman and a younger man. Unfortunately, the cut love story is a significant missed opportunity for the film to further explore themes of female empowerment and new beginnings.
