AGW Entertainment reporter saw a new dramatic film about female friends. Here are her thoughts on....

DIVINE SECRETS OF THE YA YA SISTERHOOD

Warner Brothers Pictures

Director Callie Khouri (writer: Thelma and Louise) says that men get very defensive if anyone calls "Ya Ya" a "chick flick" because most feel that the film is about relationships and family and that includes them. Guys who have had nightmare relationships with their moms could certainly relate but this isn't really a film to take your crush to. Go with your mom or other girls.

In the story, playwright Sidda (Sandra Bullock) is having trouble committing to marriage with long time boyfriend Connor (Angus MacFadyen). Her reluctance stems from her bad relationship with her unbalanced Southern Belle mom Vivi (Ellen Burstyn.. and Ashley Judd as a younger version). Long ago, Vivi and her pals Teensy (Fionnula Flanagan), Necie (Shirley Knight) and Caro (Maggie Smith) started this…..club that binds them forever. The pals decide to intervene by kidnapping Sidda and helping her and her mom get to the root of their lifelong problems.

This film is like Steel Magnolias with Cajun sauce! These "Miss Daisies" drive themselves everywhere with gusto and if you've ever had a crazy or eccentric aunt or grandma, you'll recognize the older "Ya Yas"! Music by "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou's" T-Bone Burnett is a great mood-setter. The film is based upon the popular novels by Rebecca Wells ("Ya Ya" and "Little Altars Everywhere").

Sandra Bullock is fine in her role but it is only a modern-day bookend for the story of Ellen Burstyn's Vivi and her three eccentric, loving friends played wonderfully by film pros Maggie Smith, Fionnula Flanagan and Shirley Knight. Ashley Judd, as the young Vivi, delivers some of her best work as the Southern Belle drifts deeper into depression and brutal madness. The two main men in the piece do a great job holding their own in the center of the all-girl hurricane. James Garner as Vivi's long-suffering husband Shep is likable in an understated performance and Braveheart's hunky Angus MacFadyen is both funny and poignant as Bullock's frustrated fiancé. At times the older Ya Yas stumble and mumble around in some kind of pointless scenes but, as a whole, they are funny and very "real".

Ellen Burstyn's many-layered performance is probably going to garner her another Oscar nomination. Ashley may get a nod from the golden guy as well making this doubly cool for two women playing the same character. Khouri's direction further cements her abilities with strong female characters (It couldn't have been easy shaping the performances of the seasoned old pro "divas" in the film, not to mention Judd and Bullock).

This film can be funny but pretty intense in some of the scenes in which a lead character goes crazy and takes it out on her kids. Might be too upsetting for younger girls but there are some really great female bonding scenes too. Check with your mom and go with her if you can.

For fine acting and "heart" 4 out of 5 stars.

Official website: www.yayasisterhood.com
Rated: PG-13

Director Calli Khouri
Screenplay Calli Khouri and Mark Andrus
Starring:

Sandra Bullock as Sidda-Lee

Ashley Judd as young Vivi

Ellen Burstyn as older Vivi

Maggie Smith as Caro

Shirley Knight as Necie

Fionnula Flanagan as Teensy