Did I want to see this
movie? No. Did I get dragged to it kicking and
screaming? Yes. Generally I do not like any
"girlie" movies but for some weird reason I really
liked "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood".
Call me crazy but that's the truth.
One might think that this film is nothing but southern belle
wit, cocktails, and man hating-- but one would be incorrect (for
the most part-- there is plenty of southern wit and liquor to go
around). The film is about Siddalee Walker (Sandra
Bullock), a young, successful, writer (I think a playwright) who
constantly argues with her insan-o mother. It all starts
with a newspaper interview...a poorly edited newspaper interview
that sends Vivi Walker (Ellen Burstyn) flying off the handle:
her daughter tells the press that she owes all of her creativity
to her mother because she screwed her up so badly. She
also hints that she was beaten and abused as a child.
Phone calls ensue, hanging up occurs, and war breaks out.
The mother and daughter taunt each other by sending envelopes of
burned and torn up pictures (for example). Finally, the
last straw: Siddalle sends a wedding invitation to her mother
with all of the details cut out (like where and when).
Vivi goes crazy-- and the Ya-Ya sisters decide to intervene--
they must help their leader Vivi reunite and make up with her
daughter. The Ya-Yas (all life-long friends) do what any
proper southern belle would do-- they kidnap Siddalee and hold
her hostage (unbeknownst to Vivi) in their secret club house (I guess
it's just a summer cabin that they all share). The Ya-Ya
sisters tell Siddalle all about her mother's past-- which is the
main part of the movie. There are flashbacks to Vivi's
childhood and grown-up years (enter Ashley Judd to play Vivi in
her teens-thirties).
The story is very interesting, funny, emotional, and touching
and the acting was excellent. This movie is like a cross
between "Steel Magnolias" and "Now and
Then". It's touching like "Steel Magnolias"
and it's funny and cute like "Now and Then". But
don't get the idea wrong-- this is not an entirely light hearted
movie....some of the things that Siddalee told the press were
true. Not everything in this film is sugar and
spice. I can't wait to read the book!
