I have friends who believe that I have an in-built prejudice against chick flicks. I'd like to offer this up as a counter-argument, as I liked The Women.

The Women revolves around a close-knit group. Mary (Ryan) has a well-established life but suspects her husband of having an affair. Sylvie (Bening) is the career woman who is starting to wonder if she is still relevant. Edie (Messing) is the mother-hen who is about to have her fifth child. Alex (Pinkett Smith) is the token lesbian (a paper-thin role that is the only major weak link in the story ((ndash)) she seems to just be there for wisecracks and inclusivity).

This is based on a George Cukor film from the 1930s. I haven't seen the original, but it would have to be very different from this film, as the update is very much a reflection of our times. Amidst the Blackberrys, manicurists and Pradas there seems to be a genuine humanity within these characters, something that is lacking in other 21st century gal-pal tales (yes, Sex and the City, I mean you). It also helps to have such major talent on board as Cloris Leachman (as the adorable and hilarious housekeeper), Bette Midler and Candice Bergen offering the advice of the elders in various parts of the movie. (And by the way, there is only one male in the whole movie - see if you can guess who he is).

I rejoiced that The Women was the first good chick flick to come along last year. See it to see if you agree with me.

Julie Abrams (F((eacute))lix), despite living in Salon-de-Provence, a charming town in the South of France, is depressed ((ndash)) and has felt so for a while.

Her husband Philippe, a post office administrator, thinks that moving to the seaside will cure her of her dissatisfaction and tries to engineer a transfer to the French Riviera; however, while trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a post office inspector, he is caught red-handed and as punishment is sent to a remote town in northern France.

Leaving his child and wife behind, he travels to Bergues ((ndash)) in his mind, a cold, miserable place inhabited by unemployed rednecks who spend their time drinking hard and who speak an incomprehensible patois called Ch'ti.

Philippe however comes to realise that despite his prejudices, not all is as he has assumed, and finds that Bergues can be a really good place in which to live...