Book Club: The Next Chapter brings back four classic stars – Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, and Mary Steenburgen as four lifelong friends who, in the first movie, read Fifty Shades of Grey in their monthly book club and find their lives changed forever.

In this sequel, they “take their book club to Italy for the fun girls’ trip they never had. When things go off the rails and secrets are revealed, their relaxing vacation turns into a once-in-a-lifetime cross-country adventure.” (Book-Club-The-Next-Chapter). The trip is filled with mishaps and humor, with brushes of romance for some of the characters.

The film explores themes of friendship, love, and aging with humor and heart.

Several of the supporting actors from the first film appear in this sequel, too, including Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, and Craig T. Nelson. Like the original, this movie was directed, produced and co-written by Bill Holderman.

Book Club 2: The Next Chapter began production in May of 2022 over the course of two months in Italy, including 10 days in Venice (Wikipedia).

People who saw the first movie would probably agree that the sequel is a good light-hearted comedy, but I would recommend it to maybe an older audience. The chemistry between the actors is undeniable, and there are some genuinely hilarious moments that will have you laughing out loud, although some may find the humor a bit juvenile and predictable. Additionally, the plot could have been developed more to add depth to the characters and their relationships.

I do feel that, if you’re a teen who’s just bored, this movie is entertaining to watch. Overall, it’s a fun movie to watch with friends or family.