Beaches - the Ultimate 'Chick Flick'

Now and then a girl needs to get in touch with her feminine side. This can be with her boyfriend or husband, but most of the time a movie in tends to be something he likes or something neither likes, because let's face it girls, guys like to groan and grimace at the thought of a 'chick flick'. What makes a movie a "chick flick"? Love. Flat out this can make most guys cringe if the movie is based around love. These movies are also known to make you cry - no matter how many times you see it. Below is a rundown of the movie Beaches and what makes it the ultimate chick flick.

Beaches came out in the late 80's and starred Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as two friends who met entirely by chance in Atlantic City back in the 60's. Of course you have Hillary, who is the rich daughter of a lawyer and CC who is the poor child star from New York City. The two girls meet when Hillary becomes lost on the boardwalk and receives assistance from the under the dock smoking child, CC. CC and Hillary begin a friendship and exchange addresses before Hillary's aunt whisks her away and warns her not to associate with CC's kind.

Throughout the remainder of their childhood and up through college age, both girls remain dedicated in corresponding via letters, but it'll be years before the two meet again face to face. Hillary one day decides to walk away from everything, as CC inquired, "even your money?" Hillary hadn't thought of it but she agreed that she even walked from that. After the moment of disbelief is over, CC and Hillary go off to catch up on old times and it results in the two girls moving in together.

Fast forward a little while to Hillary and CC living together, but both girls still keeping tight to their individuality, such as CC being a singing telegram girl and Hillary working for the ACLU. This is where CC and Hillary meet up with the reason the two girls will ultimately fight and go their separate ways again. Without giving too much into the movie, the stranger the two girls meet urges CC to audition for the off broadway like playhouse and after she agrees the two are on their way. CC begins to fall for John, completely becoming enamored in a short time. However, post opening night of their first performance, CC realizes that John has his eyes on Hillary.

During this time it's only lightly mentioned Hillary's father is ill and she is heading home. CC promises to take care of Hillary's plants and the two girls say goodbye again.

The letters begin once more for the two, Hillary expressing how her father is now the child and her time has been spent with a young lawyer who was like a son to her father. Eventually she mentions in a letter that her father passed on and the impending, "I did it. I am now Mrs.." letter. Hillary expresses her sorrow in CC not being able to be there at the wedding - as she felt CC was the only thing missing.

The movie progresses on through the 70's and CC's suddenly successful singing career and the girls reuniting for a bigger performance (as by this time CC has left the original playhouse) and the confrontation of the newly rich CC. The girls have a falling out in a department store over the desire for children and before long both girls have gone their separate ways.

CC strives to keep the friendship alive, however Hillary keeps returning the letters. Life turns south for CC who ends up becoming divorced from John because he just knows she doesn't need him anymore. In the meantime, Hillary is enjoying the wealthy wife lifestyle only minimally - finding herself bored and lonely. After a weekend retreat with her husband, he returns home early and after her next day raining out she returns home to find another woman in her robe at the breakfast table.

Several months later Hillary enters a seedy bar where CC is singing and Hillary springs upon CC that she is going to have a baby and raise her alone.

CC falls for Hillary's doctor and before the child can be born, CC (who is now engaged to the doctor) whisks herself away after the agent calls her about a 'can't miss' opportunity. From here the scene proceeds to Hillary in the delivery room and the successful CC joining her, along with the confrontation of the ex fiance and CC passing out when she sees a medical tool. After the delivery Hillary is in her bed trying to wake CC to introduce her to her new daughter, Victoria Cecilia, named after CC.

The scene changes from the early 80's to then modern times, with a 7ish year old Victoria playing and preparing for bed. Hillary explains she needs quiet time when they go on vacation soon because she can not shake the flu she's aquired. However, the next scene reveals Hillary in a courthouse and she suddenly can't breathe.

Hillary is diagnosed with a disease and CC rushes immediately to her best friends side - even abandoning a concert to do so. Hillary hints around having CC come with her to her childhood beach house and CC finally accepts. This is where Victoria and CC first clash, but ultimately end up bonding. CC and Hillary, of course, fight again, this time over Hillary not wanting to be disturbed by friends. The most powerful quote happens in this scene where Hillary says she's jealous of CC for having energy and her not understanding because she's still among the living. CC responds sternly with a statement of Hillary not being dead yet and to stop acting like she was. This gives Hillary and her daughter, along with CC time to enjoy each other.

After the vacation is over, CC goes back to her performing and Hillary along with Victoria return home. You next see Victoria packing for her trip to see CC Bloom in concert, however, Hillary collapses and Victoria discovers her. You next see Hillary in a hospital dying and CC talks to her. Hillary doesn't want Victoria to see her like this, so even against the nurses suggestions, CC checks her out and the three return back to the beach house.

One of the final scenes with the duo show Hillary and CC watching Victoria playing on a beach at sunset when suddenly CC looks over to her friend with a smile and her face grows grim.

It speeds through to the funeral and Victoria packing up her items at home. CC mentions to Victoria that Hillary left her custody if she wanted, although Aunt Vespa (Who raised Hillary) wants her too. There's a brief mention of Victoria's father, who she saw twice on the street, but she wanted to know if he knew about her mom dying. CC shows her motherly side for the first time, telling Victoria that it's all right if she wants to go elsewhere. All Victoria asks is if she can stay in the house. Unforunately, they can't and Victoria next asks, "Can I take my cat?" CC responds favorably and tells her she can take any old thing she wants.

CC and Victoria drive away in CC's limo from the house that Victoria has grown up in and the next thing you see is CC performing on stage. After the performance CC asks Victoria if she knew that song she sang. Then CC begins to tell Victoria the tale of how she met Hillary.

The movie shows the true meaning of friendship, always being there up to the end even when you can't agree. The lessons learned within it are sad, but reach the general audience in one manner or another - be it a friendship gone awry due to distance, a common boy or even a silly reason that down the line you can't remember. The fact is that Beaches is what I would classify as the ultimate girl movie to watch. Perhaps you ask why? You feel the movie in short. The anger, the jealousy. The loss of a loved one and having to look at their child grow up parentless. Or perhaps the songs which are performed by Bette Midler herself reach you. Not only is the movie excellent, but, the soundtrack with it is perfect.