Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (2002)

Critic Reviews

• Todd McCarthy, Variety

  While there are pleasures to be had from watching so many grand actresses strut their stuff, the fact is that the overriding preoccupation here rests with surface impressions rather than psychological probity.

• Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

  Gives us a lot to enjoy and something most studio movies don't even try for: an attempt at the richness, density and sheer contrariness of life.

• James Berardinelli, ReelViews

  As 'chick flicks' go, this one is pretty miserable, resorting to string-pulling rather than legitimate character development and intelligent plotting.

• Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

  Not one character in this ovarian jungle is particularly likable.

• Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

  Except for Ashley Judd, who shows true grit as Vivi in her babe days, the effect is like being buried in molasses.

• Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper

  [T]here's alcoholism, there's child abuse, there's all sorts of tragedy, but it's handled in a sitcom manner, which is completely wrong for this material.

• Nell Minow, Common Sense Media

  Chick flick for mom; teens may not enjoy it.

• Felix Vasquez Jr., Cinema Crazed

  Sandra Bullock is great as Siddalee Walker, the angry and disgruntled woman who has a cross to bear with her mother and often exhibits the corky odd traits her mother does.

• Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

  I heard something in the audience for Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood I don't hear often any more: the sound of middle-aged women laughing.

• , Time Out

  Better make the most of the first ten minutes of this execrable melodrama (directed by the scriptwriter of Thelma & Louise), because from then on it's the yackety-yack sisterhood in spades.

• John Venable, Supercala.com

  ...if you plan on having a man watch this film with you, do him a favor...and don't.

• Michael Dequina, Film Threat

  Seeing the film, my initial, gut perception of those who form real life Ya-Ya Sisterhoods stands: these are women with way too much time on their hands.

• Scott Nash, Three Movie Buffs

  There are some truly great actresses in this movie, but nearly all of them are wasted playing caricatures.

• Susan Michals, FilmStew.com

  Though [Khouri] has an obvious flair for exploring the inner workings of the female mind, she unfortunately glosses over a pinnacle moment in the story and inevitably lets the viewer down.

• Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com

  That such strong, capable women are called on to carry a film as shoddy as Ya-Ya in front of and from behind the camera is hardly progress.

• Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena

  A tal irmandade Ya-Ya é de uma bobagem extremada, e o roteiro tem buracos incríveis, deixando de lado vários pontos sobre os irmãos de Burstyn e Bullock, que são mencionados, mas nunca vistos.

• Steven Snyder, Zertinet Movies

  ...it becomes clear that these two hours would be better spent reflecting on our own treasured memories than getting confused by this group's sordid past.

• John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online

  ...Mostly a load of pretentious crap, but it has its moments.

• Nick Davis, Nick's Flick Picks

  Since, at least as relates to its central plot, Ya-Ya cheerleads for the pure life-living gusto of its gaudy heroines, some spirited overacting and slathery screenwriting is less a liability than a guilty pleasure the movie is wholly in on.

• Terri Clark, Apollo Guide

  It is the actresses' irreproachable ability to tap into the feminine psyche, to capture the beauty of female friendships and to demonstrate the complex love and loathe relationship often found between mothers and daughters that elevates this movie.

Read all 22 critic reviews