Menopause Illustrated

Actor/director Jan Brehm was inspired to make this film—mixing humor and medical information about menopause—when she entered middle age and began to experience the “change of life.” The telegenic Brehm hosts the first segment of footage—speaking to the camera and re-enacting a menopause-related anecdote, in which she forgets things and snaps at her “husband” Ron (played by Brendan Quinlan). While watching news reports and commercials on fictional channels (like the Estrogen Sports Network), Ron develops a clearer medical and psychological picture about what his wife is going through and learns to be more understanding and less judgmental. The second two segments, hosted by Dr. Tori Hudson—a naturopath who founded a women's health clinic in Portland, OR, wrote the Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Health, and has taught at several colleges—provide in-depth information from medical experts about symptoms and an overview of hormone replacement therapy. Although billed as “a guy's guide to her menopause,” Menopause Illustrated is likely to hold greater interest for women, especially the material on symptoms (which include weight gain, headache, fatigue, irritability, depression, and loss of libido). Despite the usefulness of much of the information, however, the program sits uneasily between documentary and infomercial, which is reinforced by a talk show portion in which Jerry Annand, M.A., a marriage counselor, speaks with guests who may be real-life couples or paid actors (it's unclear which). A more conventional factual approach would have been better. Still, given the dearth of other DVDs on the subject, this should still be considered a strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (K. Fennessy)