Chrysanthepop I had postponed watching 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' because I thought it would be just another melodramatic glossy film like 'Steel Magnolias'. I finally got myself to see it last night. After all how bad could a movie, with a cast that includes Ellen Burstyn, Sandra Bullock, Maggie Smith, Fionnula Flanagan, James Garner and Shirley Knight, be? Now I can say that 'Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood' did not disappoint.First of all, this is a performance oriented film. It is the acting by every single actor that makes this film stand above others. The movie has some great one-liners that are wonderfully delivered by the actors. Ellen Burstyn, Ashley Judd, Maggie Smith, Sandra Bullock, Fionnula Flanagan, Shirley Knight, Angus MacFadyen and James Garner are superb. Their line delivery and knack for comedy and/or subtle intensity is excellent.I found the timeline to be a bit inconsistent. The art direction in the 30s setting is brilliant. Detail is given to the costumes, makeup, gestures and language of the actors. However, the present day, which is supposed to be set in the 70s doesn't give that feel at all. I also would have liked to see more backstory on Teensy, Caro and Necie. After all, the story is about their sisterhood.Even though flawed, it's an interesting study on relationships. The balance of comedy and intensity is well done and it avoids being the 'tearjerker melodrama' that 'Steel Magnolias' is.

lrcarlson One writer called this "A chick flick for chicks of all ages." This is probably a fair description, though I hate the term "chick flick" and find that a majority of the movies that touch me most deeply probably fall under that "category." Beyond this, however, I believe this is a wonderful movie for anyone. including males who are not afraid of their "feminine" side, their sensitive side. I have always been a big fan of James Garner, and have recently become a huge Sandra Bullock fan (which is why I bought this DVD in the first place). But while I was very pleased with their usually excellent performances, the entire cast was truly outstanding. And while the focus of the film was on female friendships and mother-daughter relationships, it also speaks of human relationships in general, in all their joy and pain and complexity, and of the power of love - not to eliminate the problems or overlook them - but to transcend them. A great movie - give it a try!

wild-cherry-1 Hello everybody,I saw the film yesterday, it's a moving story anyway.I live in in Central Europe and I was wondering why Vivi, who was extremely well-off (large detached house with many rooms, 2 bathrooms, she had an own car and didn't have to work as a wife & mother), was not able to appreciate, to treasure all (including people) she had? Where I live, average people live in small apartments (mortgage loan) with 2 or 3 rooms in a tenement house, mothers have to work full time (or overtime...) even if they'd rather stay st home with the children, a lot of families don't even have a car cause they can't afford it. But rich people here aren't that rich like Vivi's family and her social environment!Elderly women can't afford hairdresser, cosmetics, beautiful clothes, etc. regularly either. And alcoholics (drug abusers) are usually underclass here 'cause drinking costs a lot of money, too. :P So they lose their jobs, apartments, cars, health and family members (divorce, isolation) and have a high risk to be homeless.By the way, Vivi didn't have to fight for anything! To make a little effort... That was one of her problem, one of the reasons, I think!Even love came easily to her. (But it flew away...) Though I know - or I suppose - her unhappiness came from the lack of real love (in a sexual meaning) to her husband. She only liked him but not loved. Big difference! That's why she couldn't find the way tho their children's hearts either: they were not the fruits of a relationship based on true love, their faces were no mirrors of the beloved man. So I think that you can be any rich or any poor, you might live in a developed country or in the second (third) world, doesn't really matter. Only love, honesty and harmony in the family counts.Other conclusion: Don't go for the second best! Don't lie love to any man - and to yourself!

Marina This is a nicely done story of how a young woman comes to learn about some of the difficult circumstances behind some of her worst childhood memories, and thus stops being a victim to them. I don't want to address specifics lest I ruin it for you. The cast is nothing short of awesome, the story is very good - I highly recommend this one. Fionnula Flanagan particularly sparkled, as did Maggie Smith.The trailer for this movie was VERY poorly done, so I avoided it for years. However, I got roped into watching it one night & I was shocked that I loved it. The character development was, for the most part, very well done. The subject matter was close to what one might see in their real life as opposed to over-glamorized dramatizations of what goes on in real life - I think this fact may be why this movie was not so well received. You will hear about the events being retold, but your heart strings will not be gratuitously pulled, and the characters do not wallow in grief & drama. You'll have to think for yourself, pay attention, & make up your own mind about things as they play out, but it's worth it.