The 1988 movie “Beaches” brought viewers to tears. With a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of lifelong friendship, it starred Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey and included wonderful songs by Midler. Lifetime TV has remade the film with Idina Menzel and Nia Long in the roles of CC Bloom and Hillary Whitney.
Perhaps one of the most remembered songs to come out of the movie is “Wind Beneath my Wings” and that remains part of this new version. “I have been singing this song my whole life,” Menzel told the media, “ever since I was a wedding singer, and Bar Mitzvah singer, every single 13-year-old boy danced with his mother to ‘Wind Beneath My Wings,’ so I’ve been singing it. I am well rehearsed. I was trying to find my own spin on it, and that was because of my amazing producer who found a new underpinning for it, to kind of bring out new modern sounds, and it was actually enjoyable for me.”
Menzel acknowledged that she doesn’t do remakes or revivals because she prefers to originate a role. It took her several times saying no to herself before agreeing to undertake the role, originated by Midler. Menzel has a fabulous voice and performs the songs with her own interpretations, which viewers will undoubtedly enjoy.
She also confessed she is happy to bring the story to a new generation of viewers. The Lifetime version doesn’t stray far from the original film, and if you know that movie well, you will see the same scenes in this film.
I am not a fan of updating a classic film. If you are a true fan of the original, it probably won’t live up to your expectations. The story of love, friendship, and sisterhood still remains at the forefront of the film with two wonderful dramatic performances by Long and Menzel. The most memorable part of the TV remake is the extraordinary voice of Idina Menzel.
Lifetime premiers “Beaches” on January 21, 2017.
