Review of Steel Magnolias (2012) by Alex H — 30 Dec 2012

Directed by Herbert Ross (Play It Again, Sam (1972), The Sunshine Boys (1975) and The Goodbye Girl (1977)), this was adapted from Robert Harling's 1987 play, (Harling did the screenplay here), it's an emotional and warm comedy-drama with a great female ensemble at it's core, it manages to get every emotion out, and there's laughter and tears within a minute, but it's well written and well acted.

Set in Chinquapin in Louisiana, this begins when graduate Annelle Dupuy (Daryl Hannah) goes to work at a beauty salon belonging to Truvy Jones (Dolly Parton). Truvy's friend M'Lynn Eatenton (Sally Field) and her daughter Shelby (Julia Roberts) are regulars, Shelby is getting married to Jackson (Dylan McDermott).

But they all support one another, and also in their inner circle are widows Ouiser Boudreaux (Shirley MacLaine) and Clairee Belcher (Olympia Dukakis). As Shelby and Jackson have a child, but then a tragedy shakes the emotions of this tight-knit community of friends to it's very core, but nothing will separate them, life's too short.

It's an emotional but well made comedy-drama, Ross gets the best from his cast and it really is a good advertisement for southern hospitality. It's an 80's film through and through, but it hasn't aged a day, it's well made and also has support from the likes of Sam Shepard and Tom Skerritt.