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Steel Magnolias has jokes and characters to spare, which makes it more dangerous (and effective) when it goes for the full melodrama by the end.
All Critics (30) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (21) | Rotten (9) | DVD (5)
Field does some spectacular underplaying through the bulk of the action, revealing layer after layer of the feelings of this kindly tempered, deeply worried mother. Mar 26, 2009 | Full Review…
Field does some spectacular underplaying through the bulk of the action, revealing layer after layer of the feelings of this kindly tempered, deeply worried mother.
Variety Staff
It makes a shameless bid for your heart, aiming to have you smiling one moment, sniffling the next. Jun 24, 2006 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
It makes a shameless bid for your heart, aiming to have you smiling one moment, sniffling the next.
Suzi Feay
''Steel Magnolias'' is pop entertainment of an especially condescending, superficial sort. May 20, 2003
''Steel Magnolias'' is pop entertainment of an especially condescending, superficial sort.
Vincent Canby
Watching Herbert Ross's "Steel Magnolias," you feel as if you have been airlifted onto some horrible planet of female impersonators. Jan 1, 2000 | Full Review…
Watching Herbert Ross's "Steel Magnolias," you feel as if you have been airlifted onto some horrible planet of female impersonators.
Hal Hinson
"Steel Magnolias" is essentially a series of comic one-liners leading up to a teary tragedy, but let it be said that the one-liners are mostly funny and the tragedy deserves most, but not all, of the tears. Jan 1, 2000 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
"Steel Magnolias" is essentially a series of comic one-liners leading up to a teary tragedy, but let it be said that the one-liners are mostly funny and the tragedy deserves most, but not all, of the tears.
Roger Ebert
In the Robert Harling play from which is it adapted, the events take place entirely in the town's beauty parlour, and director Herbert Russ has opened the action out quite successfully. Apr 9, 2019 | Full Review…
In the Robert Harling play from which is it adapted, the events take place entirely in the town's beauty parlour, and director Herbert Russ has opened the action out quite successfully.
Hilary Mantel
Ross gets generally strong performances from his ensemble, and an especially good one from Field in a role that really doesn't suit her. Apr 26, 2016 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
Ross gets generally strong performances from his ensemble, and an especially good one from Field in a role that really doesn't suit her.
A good film for the soft-hearted more than the paean to womanly strength that was its motive. Apr 26, 2016 | Rating: 3/5 | Full Review…
A good film for the soft-hearted more than the paean to womanly strength that was its motive.
Angie Errigo
This is a little too dependent on sassy one-liners and is awash with sentiment by the end, but is still wonderful entertainment. Apr 26, 2016 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
This is a little too dependent on sassy one-liners and is awash with sentiment by the end, but is still wonderful entertainment.
David Parkinson
Steel Magnolias is so immersed by the conviction of its story that in a way it becomes an extension of our own human experience. Dec 4, 2013 | Rating: 3.5/4 | Full Review…
Steel Magnolias is so immersed by the conviction of its story that in a way it becomes an extension of our own human experience.
David Keyes
chooses to leave the rearing of her moppet to Dylan McDermott...or Dermot Mulroney. Doesn't matter. Oct 25, 2012 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…
chooses to leave the rearing of her moppet to Dylan McDermott...or Dermot Mulroney. Doesn't matter.
Walter Chaw
Three-hanky special, but with lots of laughs, too. Jan 1, 2011 | Rating: 4/5 | Full Review…
Three-hanky special, but with lots of laughs, too.
Ellen MacKay
This bittersweet drama has a very nice cast and deserves credit for making us laugh and cry at the same time even in its most melodramatic scenes, but the film's last seven minutes are simply awful and should have been excised from it without any mercy.
Super Reviewer
Moving film. This is Olympia Dukakis' best role. I love it more than my luggage!
"The movie has an even balance of humor and tragedy. I think it's one of the best casts in a film. The ladies just play the roles so raw and honest you go on this roller coaster of emotions. The characters feel so real. Many women can relate to this film. The movie is about motherhood, friendship, family, loss, and love. This film will always be a huge favorite of mine. My niece is even named after one of the characters. I cry every single time I watch this movie. Olympia Dukakis, Shirley MacLaine and Sally Field are my favorite ladies in the cast. It's a complete chick flick. If you enjoy a good story that might make you shed some tears, then see this one. If not for the story then for the great cast and acting."
"Oh, I wish I was in Dixie!" for the middle class suburban wife set. Obvious to a fault, its implied "girls are in this all together" message subverted by the constant backbiting gossip sessions in the beauty parlor where they make themselves "pretty", a girl power flag raiser pretender.
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