Reel Critics
Ray Buffer
The film version of Rebecca Wells’ 1996 novel, “Divine Secrets of the
Ya-Ya Sisterhood” and the 1999 book “Little Altars Everywhere” directed
by first-time director Callie Khouri (who won a 1991 Oscar for her
screenplay, “Thelma & Louise” and was the screenwriter of 1995s
“Something To Talk About”) succeeds in its mission. What that mission is,
may be up for debate.
The film’s crew and creative team are comprised of all women according
to its production company name. So saying that this is a “chick flick”
would be an understatement.
Sandra Bullock plays Sidda, a two-dimensional woman who
chronologically should be 50-plus years of age but appears 35. Sidda has
written a play about her troubled childhood, publicized through an
interview taken out of context for Time Magazine. The article infuriates
her mother.
The “Ya Ya” sisterhood comprised of Sidda’s mother and her mother’s
lifelong friends, concoct a plot to bring Sidda home to Louisiana and
explain to her the “Divine Secret” of why Sidda’s childhood was made so
difficult.
Though at times contrived and emotionally manipulating, the story
seeks to show how reflecting and revealing the dramatic past can
transform the present to a happier one.
Comprising the remainder of the cast are Ellen Burstyn, Fionnula
Flanagan, Shirley Knight, Maggie Smith, Ashley Judd, Angus MacFadyen and
James Garner. All the performers are fabulous during their nearly-equal
screen time. The two Europeans, Smith and Flanagan, fit expertly into
their southern drawls, and Smith in particular is both visually and
verbally hilarious in her understated performance.
The story, penned for the screen by the director herself and
screenwriter Mark Andrus (“Life As a House”, “As Good As It Gets”), has
more holes than a colander hit by meteorites, but that is the price of
taking a character driven novel and subtracting the narrative. Overly
wrought drama serves to distract from these holes, but occasionally the
attempts to elicit emotion from the audience can be recognized, which
makes them patronizing. Many times throughout the film the script is
crisp and clever and the performances are hilarious.
Khouri succeeds in portraying the vast timeline of events ranging from
the childhood of Sidda’s mother to the present day, seamlessly and
realistically. Khouri also succeeds in displaying the soul of the film by
showing that women can succeed in being lifelong friends and the support
of true, unconditional friendship -- without ulterior motives -- can buoy
and complete a life.
The strategy of releasing this film during a flurry of blockbusters
aimed at teenage boys may be divine indeed. See this movie with mom, your
sister, a group of your own Ya Yas or anyone with whom you share a close
bond.
* RAY BUFFER, 32, is a professional singer, actor and voice-over
artist.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.