In the 1930's four young girls in Louisiana pledge an eternal sisterhood. Many years later, one of the women, Vivi, has a severe falling out with her daughter and the Ya-Ya's unite to mend the rift.

The perspective of this film is constantly changing. We see the Ya-Ya Sisters from many angles, both as mothers and daughters. This leads to an integral understanding and development of the characters. We learn more about some than others as it pertains to Vivi's (Ellen Burstyn) current dilemma. Ashley Judd gives a wonderfully polarized performance as a younger Vivi.

While no performance is truly captivating, the cast presents the worthy material well. It can be said that many of the film's moments seem contrived. And I was a bit under whelmed with the mother/daughter talk that finally resolved their rift. Vivi was able to muster up useful dialogue with her husband and others but failed to do so here. Still, the theme that an adult daughter may still have much to learn about her mother goes a long way. Despite some very serious subject matter, the film maintains an uplifting feel. A chick-flick for certain, but if you're a movie lover, don't let that scare you away.

Directed by Callie Khouri.