Why retire at 70, particularly when you’re Pulitzer Prize-winning Alice Hughes (Meryl Streep) and you have a manuscript that’s due soon — though nowhere near completion — and a new literary agent (Gemma Chan) with fingers crossed that it will be a followup to your most famous work? Perhaps a trip to London on the Queen Mary 2 to accept a prestigious literary award will afford Hughes the time needed to finish her latest tome. (Health restrictions prohibit her from flying.) In addition to her nephew Tyler (Lucas Hedges), who is later recruited by agent Karen to find dirt on the current state of the palimpsest, Alice invites two college friends: Susan (Dianne Wiest), with whom she regularly keeps in touch, and Roberta (Candice Bergen), who she hasn’t seen in over 30 years, due in large part to the latter’s feelings over the author using details of her private life to sell books. Don’t expect a variation on Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion. This is a film by Steven Soderbergh, who once again proves his indispensability as both a director of actors and photography. (The sparkling shipboard cinematography is the best commercial a cruise line could ask for.) Critics of Bergen’s early work (remember T.R. Baskin?) initially laughed her off the screen, dubbing her “Charlie McCarthy’s little sister.” But from the opening moment lingerie saleswoman Roberta shoots daggers at a pesky customer, it’s clear that Bergen is the one getting the last laugh. Lightweight Soderbergh still packs more punch than the films of most so-called “important” filmmakers. The ending houses at least a couple of major surprises, while the improvisational work he draws from his cast would make one swear that every word was scripted. (2020) — Scott Marks
This movie is not currently in theaters.