Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

...it becomes clear that these two hours would be better spent reflecting on our own treasured memories than getting confused by this group's sordid past.

...Mostly a load of pretentious crap, but it has its moments.

Since, at least as relates to its central plot, Ya-Ya cheerleads for the pure life-living gusto of its gaudy heroines, some spirited overacting and slathery screenwriting is less a liability than a guilty pleasure the movie is wholly in on.

It is the actresses’ irreproachable ability to tap into the feminine psyche, to capture the beauty of female friendships and to demonstrate the complex love and loathe relationship often found between mothers and daughters that elevates this movie.

Cross-generational mother-daughter drama is a little familiar, but it'll still warm your heart.

Well-made, but frequently boring and predictable drama -- a couple of decent performances but the climax doesn’t work and it’s all been done better elsewhere.

With an assist from screenwriter Mark Andrus, and judicious borrowing from the follow-up novel Little Altars Everywhere, Ms. Khouri has tamed Rebecca Wells' sprawling narrative without sacrificing its emotional riches.

For all the quirky behaviour on display, there is still no personality, merely 'issues', their resolutions and a lot of frickin' ya-yas.

What have we done to deserve this treacly, badly-acted nonsense? Whose children have we run over in a previous life?

Not as good as the book it is based on...