Why?
First, I have to tell you, I honestly don’t care that much for Steel Magnolias as a movie, I never really fell for it, but for some unknown reason I feel compelled to watch it every time it comes on tv, don’t ask, i don’t know. Now, I do LOVE the cast, how could you not, with heavy hitters like Sally Field, Dolly Parton [with her original face], Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Daryl Hannah [with her original face as well], Julia Roberts, Tom Skerrit, Dylan MacDermott, Sam Shepard.
In classic Hollywood style, another remake! Really? The interesting thing about this remake is that it was almost identical, word for word, character names, actions, everything, even down to the mediocre southern accents from some of the actors.
Most remakes are the same concept, but a new story line or similar story line done a whole new way, not this one. The concept of the movie was the same and the outcome, sad of course, but the classic lines were still there, including “My colors are blush and bashful”.
It was interesting to see the original movie, with a predominately white cast, remade by a predominately black cast. Certain dialog, actions and actors didn’t seem to be as comfortable and fluid in the remake, as if it wasn’t natural to or for some of the them. And along with some of the dialog not being natural, this wasn’t the best showcase for some of the actors, unfortunately, there were big shoes to fill.
That being said, it was kind of sad because there were some great heavy hitters in this movie as well. Queen Latifah, Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, the actors I am most familiar with and enjoy and admire them as performers, some funny moments here and there, but overall, I didn’t feel that they could carry the entire film on their shoulders, even though they were trying.
I believe this was a made-for-tv movie and I found it on Netflix, not saying you shouldn’t watch it, but that’s my review.
Peaches Prattlings 