Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood ★★ 2002 (PG-13) 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. 116m/C VHS, DVD. US 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;
Director:
Callie Khouri;
Writer:
Callie Khouri, Mark Andrus;
Writer:
John Bailey;
Cameo:
T-Bone Burnett.
