Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood Movie Review 2002

Southern dramedy with a group of girlfriends (Smith, Flanagan, Knight) who stage an intervention to help about-to-be-married, New York-based playwright Sidda Lee (Bullock) discover the truth about her eccentric, alcoholic Southern mama Vivi (Burstyn). Flashbacks ensue as we see the women as children in the 1930s when they formed their secret Ya-Ya society and then later to Vivi as a young women (played somewhat hysterically by Judd). The most fun bits, however, are those with the slightly cracked Southern belles now in their 70s. Female bonding, estrogen-fest gives short shrift to the men in these ladies' lives (shocking!). First time director Khouri lets these kooky dames (and the plot) run a little too wild. Based on the novels "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" and "Little Altars Everywhere" by Rebecca Wells.

Distribution

Warner Home Video, Inc., 5775 Linder Canyon Rd., Westlake Village, CA 91362, URL: http://whv.warnerbros.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 116 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

American South, Female Bonding, Writers, Otherwise Engaged, On the Rocks, Monster Moms, Flashback, Louisiana

Screenplay

Callie Khouri, Mark Andrus

Cast

Ashley Judd, Sandra Bullock, Ellen Burstyn, Maggie Smith, James Garner, Fionnula Flanagan, Shirley Knight, Cherry Jones, Angus MacFadyen, Jacqueline McKenzie, Katy Selverstone, Kiersten Warren, Gina McKee, Matthew Settle, David Rasche, Fred Koehler, Leslie Silva, Ron Dortoh, David Lee Smith

Cinematography

John Bailey

Director

Callie Khouri

Music

T-Bone Burnett

Other

Petur Hliddal, Andrew Marcus, John R. Jensen, Gary Jones, David J. Bomba

Producer

Bonnie Bruckheimer, Hunt Lowry, All Girl Films, Gaylord Productions, Warner Bros.