Matialth Good concept, poorly executed.

GetPapa Far from Perfect, Far from Terrible

Glimmerubro It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

bcjjjs The Sisterhood is portrayed in "now and then". The casting of the older sisterhood was Ellen Burstyn as Vivi, Fionnula Flanagan as Teensey, Shirley Knight as Necie and Maggie Smith as Caro, all brilliant. The problem was the casting of the four actresses who portrayed the sisterhood when they were younger. Ashley Judd does not resemble Ellen Burstyn as a younger woman and neither do the other three actresses portraying Teensey, Necie and Maggie, respectively. This made the film very confusing to watch. The film often reverted back and forth, from present day to the past. As the writers did not use the sisterhood names enough in the script, the viewer could not readily identify who they were.EXAMPLE (SPOILER ALERT): Ashley Judd is riding a bike with a friend (never identified, is it Carol or Necie or somebody else?) over a bridge. They are stopped by a young man. Who is he? (I had to look up his face on IMDb to find he is listed as Vivi's brother, Pete!) The young man says, "Vivi, we have to go to Teensey's house." He was sad. They leave to go to Teensey's house. I still do not know who is the other girl on the bike. If the writers had added to Pete's dialogue, "Caro (or Necie?), come with us" then it would have helped the viewer know who she is. When the three arrive at Teensey's house, you slowly realize that Teensey's brother is Jack, Vivi's fiancé, who was killed in the war. And the viewer was to know they were related, how? This happened so often in the film that I kept rewinding scenes to "get" the film.The film is a disturbing look at Vivi's life. She never recovered from Jack's death, married Shep (James Garner) on the rebound, had 4 children, and was completely unhappy, almost to the point of hating everyone around her. She heads on a downward spiral, ending up an alcoholic.(SPOILER ALERT) When Siddalee (excellently portrayed by Sandra Bullock, as Vivi's eldest daughter) was a young girl, Vivi had a total nervous breakdown. Vivi then disappeared, in Siddalee's eyes. Siddalee and her siblings thought their mother went away because they were bad. Siddalee remembers it wrongly because Vivi made Shep swear never to tell the children she had been committed. Because this tragic secret had never been revealed to Siddalee, she had been in and out of therapy her entire life.I am honestly not an Ashley Judd fan. Most of the film rested on her shoulders. We realize that Vivi is emotionally scarred due to a jealous, mentally unstable mother. I could've felt sorry for Vivi, but Judd did not make the character likable. In many scene, Judd either underacts or overacts. Later in the film, the modern-day Necie says to Siddalee, "I wish you could've known your mother when she was younger. She was so likable." And I said out loud, "no, she not."

blanche-2 Ellyn Burstyn, Finnoula Flanagan, Shirley Knight and Maggie Smith hold "The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood," a girlhood pact made in childhood, in this 2002 film also starring Sandra Bullock, Ashley Judd and James Garner. Bullock plays Sidda, a successful writer and the daughter of the outrageous Vivi. Both mother and daughter are in crisis after Sidda's profile appears in Time Magazine, and the profile's author has emphasized Sidda's problems with her mother. Mother and daughter start sending hate notes, photos with their faces cut out, invitations with no address or date, etc. to one another as well as hanging up the phone upon hearing the other's voice. The other three ya-yas visit Sidda, slip her a date-rape drug and bring her to Louisiana, where they all live, so they can show her their Ya-ya secrets book and she can learn some things about her mother that she never knew.The somewhat contrived plot is saved by the wonderful acting of the entire cast. Burstyn has long been one of my favorite actresses, and she creates a powerful portrait of the alcoholic temperamental diva Vivi. She's backed up beautifully by another of my favorite actresses, Maggie Smith as well as Flanagan and Knight. Ashley Judd plays the young Vivi. She does an excellent job showing Vivi's progression from a fun-loving young woman rejected by her mother (Cherry Jones) but adored by her father to an unhappy, drunken and overwhelmed one with a husband she doesn't love and too many children. Bullock's angry Sidda is effective, and her scenes with Burstyn are very poignant. James Garner as Bullock's long- suffering but loving father gives a wonderful performance, showing a caring but resigned man who has somehow managed to live with this woman for years.This isn't Fried Green Tomatoes. It's a portrait of an abusive childhood, mental illness, misinformation about medications - and survival. Unfortunately some of the people reviewing this film don't have a clear understanding of mental illness and what the wrong medication can do to someone. The story is tempered with humor and vibrant characterizations and the old adage, we don't pick our parents; if we can make our peace with their lives and with them, it makes life a little easier.

sonia-darrow I gave this movie 3 stars because I appreciate the portrayal of sassy old ladies who drink and curse and smoke; if not for that I would have given it a 1 or 2.I read the book last summer while I was in Louisiana, adored it, and read the two others in the series. I know that movies generally don't do justice to the books they're based on. I heard unenthusiastic reviews. I still rented this movie with the expectation--even determination--to enjoy it. Then I discovered Sandra Bullock was in it. Puke. Her southern accent is a travesty. I want to rant on a bit about how disgusting it is that her performance was allowed to taint the Ya-ya name but it's probably not her fault. Her persona is just completely wrong for this story. Whoever cast her should be taken behind the barn and shot. Ditto for the director.Like I said, I really, really wanted to like this movie in spite of potential supposed mediocrities... But it really, undeniably sucked.I BEG anyone who has seen or is considering seeing this movie to just go out and read the book instead. If you judge the thing based on the cinematic adaptation it will appear to be pure drivel, and you will have missed quite a bit of important and beautiful stuff from the writing.

girrlslie2 i don't think anyone should see this movie without first reading the book....the book is excellent and the movie does it justice but this movie is definitely not for people only into action flicks or movies that are mindless drivel..........it will make you laugh but you will have to think and be aware of all the characters...its a good movie but definitely not for guys into "manly" movies...Ashley Judd is amazing and of course Sandra bullock is her usual charming self..but my favorite actor in the whole thing is Fionnula Flanagan playing teensie...she just nails the character!.................. .......... .......... ............. ............................ .................... ............. ....... .................... ........ .............. .................... ............................