I'd seen a fair number of movies with comedic elements lately, but it was time for an indisputable comedy-drama. It was also time for something that easily passed the Bechdel test, with six women getting top billing and the entire poster. OK, mainly I decided to watch what would soon stop streaming on Netflix.
Although partly based in truth, the story takes place entirely in a fictional small town in Louisiana. It begins on the wedding day of Shelby Eatenton (Julia Roberts) and Jackson Latcherie (Dylan McDermott), who narrowly avoid several fiascos, including cold feet. Alas, the event showcases Shelby's worsening health from diabetes. Her mother, Mary Lynn or "M'Lynn" (Sally Field), would rather she not endanger herself further by having a baby. When the focus is not on the Eatentons or the Latcheries, it's usually on Annelle Dupuy (Daryl Hannah), sometimes made out to be the main character. She's a struggling newcomer who gets hired at the beauty shop of gossipy Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton), falls for one Sammy DeSoto (Kevin J. O'Connor), and then finds religion more than Sammy likes.
That summary may sound more dramatic than comedic. Well, as often happens with the genre combo, it gets more serious overall as it goes along. Besides, less plot-important characters are more exaggerated, like M'Lynn's inconsiderate weapon-loving husband, "Drum" (Tom Skerritt), and their loutish sons, Tommy (Knowl Johnson) and Jonathan (Jonathan Ward). Rounding out the aforementioned six women are ritzy acquaintance Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis) and her perpetually grumpy frenemy, Louise "Ouiser" Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine), who especially hates Drum.
The film is adapted from a Robert Harling play, in which Shelby is based on Harling's sister. I do not know how much else reflects reality, but a partial truth explains why it feels largely like a slice of life. That means a tradeoff as always: If you want the plot to keep progressing, you'll rarely be satisfied.
I already figured I wasn't in the target audience. Never mind the femininity; I'm unaccustomed to hearing such thick southern accents nonstop. Apart from a few choice lines, the humor doesn't strike me as fresh. As for the acting, I can see why Roberts, Field, MacLaine, and Dukakis all got at least nods at one award ceremony or another, but I'm not surprised that Hannah fell short and director Herbert Ross ripped Parton's ability.
My mom never felt like she was missing out on SM. I told her she might like it better than I did, but I don't particularly recommend it.
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