20th Century Fox, Rated PG-13
Directed by Wayne Wang
Written by Alvin Sargent based on the novel by Mona Simpson

This movie, which certainly qualifies as a "chick flick" just screams "Adapted from a novel by the same name." It plays like a book from beginning to end.
Natalie Portman and Susan Sarandon give stellar performances in what is probably the biggest "actor's showcase" of the year. Ann (Sarandon) drags her daughter Adele (Portman) to L.A. from a small suburb. We follow the story as Adele grows up and soon becomes more of a parent to her mother than her mother is to her. Even though we've covered most of this territory before, it is given a new freshness by the performances and the realisitic storyline. Portman earns her Golden Globe nomination and Sarandon does a great job. However, I don't know if her character should have been considered more humorous than I found her. Hers is the kind of character (see the mother in the much-worse Hope Floats) that is "funny" in films but would be unbearable in real life. At least Adele reacts to her in a realistic way and Portman's portrayal of her maturity is similar to her Broadway performance in Anne Frank and ranks among her best roles to date. Wang gives his lead actresses plenty of room and the direction isn't especially remarkable but he doesn't make many wrong turns, either. The film itself isn't especially remarkable either, but if you are a fan of either actress, it's not to be missed. ***