Steel Magnolias (2012 TV Movie) User Reviews

Steel Magnolias

[dalydj-918-255175 · 6/10 · 12 October 2012]

When the 1987 play was turned into a movie with Sally Field, Julia Roberts and many more strong women apart of that cast. Then lifetime decided to take the plat but instead of using white actors this version changed it around by using African-American Actors in all the main parts. The story is still the same with M'Lynn (Queen Latifah) getting ready for her daughter Shelby's (Condola Rashād) wedding. Most of the movie is set in the hair salon of Truvy (Jill Scott) as they women talk about problems and hair of course. When then learn some important information that Shelby has type one diabetes which she must live with especially in our first introduction to the disease when M'Lynn must give her juice. The film has many funny moments between the women and the family. The film also leads up to some more dramatic scenes but especially in the third act when Shelby has passed away due to her illness we see all the characters go through a hard time and especially M'Lynn which leads to her final breakdown in the salon when she says "I was prepared to go first" and this was the moment that effected me the most. The transition into a story of these women by changing the race did change the story because I believe that some of these characters felt stereotyped compared if they were played by white actors. The performances are very good, led by another strong performance by Latifah may not be to the level in which Field gave to this role but she did try her best and I felt that this part no matter who plays it is always going to be a great performance. The standout of the supporting cast was Alfre Woodard playing the bitter, comedic and rich Ouiser, she brought a performance I feel I have never seen from Woodard as she mixed her skills of comedy and drama. The other women blend into the ensemble as their performances are not much to talk about. The direction of the film did feel lackluster to me as Kenny Leon did nothing special but let these actors do the best with the material they were given by Sally Robinson. The film may have not been to the level of the 1989 one but it still did have some nice moments.

MOVIE GRADE: C- (MVP: Queen Latifah)

Eh.

[monicamartin41 · 5/10 · 18 December 2012]

It's OK. I wasn't sure if this would work out or not. Its OK. Not great but not bad either. I love the older version better.

OK, another reviewer said Shelby in the original was a b*t*h? Um...how? She was spoiled, yes but not a b*t*h. What an idiot! Also, apparently you have never seen anyone with diabetes reacting with too much insulin and not enough sugar in their bodies. They sweat, pass out, and freak out because they can't control themselves. Thats a bad episode but it happens. I have seen it a lot.

They would have been better off not making a remake of this movie. I really thought it might have been funny and great. Not so much. I am a huge fan of Queen Latifa. Thats why I watched it. Just didn't seem to work as well as they thought. Good try though.

not that bad

[mudbone-42885 · 6/10 · 22 April 2020]

The movie wasn't as bad as some other reviewers have said, some bad performances, but the funny lines from the original were there and not nearly as long as the original. the emotional impact is still there but not as strong.

Should have just left it alone...

[misstreal11 · 11 May 2013]

I was excited when I saw that they were remaking this movie. I was disappointed 2 minutes into it when I realized that they actually REMADE the movie. It was disappointing, I was anticipating a remake with a twist to make it their own. But a line for line remake with a different cast was a total let down. I loved the original and this with the bad acting just didn't compare. I just don't understand the reason for a remake with an all black cast if they weren't going to make it their own, and thats not being racist. I'm an African American woman myself, it just all seemed so unnatural. They had great actors in the movie it just didn't live up to all of the hype that surrounded it.

Pitiful

[LadyWriter-187-673261 · 2/10 · 25 February 2018]

With the exception of Queen Latifa, Alfre Woodward and Felicia Rashad, there was not a single actor in this movie who had any grasp on their character. The old familiar lines are delivered abrasively, almost sarcastically, like not a one of them understand the undertones. I cannot say how many times over the years I have watched the original and I still love it, crying and laughing along with those ladies. I still don't understand why they thought they needed to remake a classic, but to do it so badly is a crime. Most disturbing of all is Shelby is comes off not just abrasive, but ugly inside, not at all what the character of Shelby is and there is zero chemistry between her and her mother. All in all, this remake was a fail, a major disappointment. It lacks the chemistry between the group of women; instead of filling the soul, it just tears into it with desperation.

Nonwhitewashing

[MrDeWinter · 1/10 · 10 October 2021]

What was the point of this? Almost scene by scene, line by line identical with the original badly recreated.

it was okay....

[MizzBrwnSuga · 7/10 · 24 October 2012]

I mean would have thought that they would have updated the movie and have not made the movie word for word in the original version. However, the one thing i did not like was where was the scene with the car covered in rubbers?!? that was the one part i was looking forward to seeing. Oh well. But for the movie to be 'new' i wouldn't say so. It was not what i had expected for it to be. But still, i cried when i saw it. I cried like a baby. I cried like a little four year old who just dropped their ice cream cone on the ground on a hot summers day while all other other kids around are eating their ice cream cone. I know why i cried so much during this movie and during the original, because i put myself in the shoes of Shelby and in the shoes of M'lynn. Aww darn, here come the tears now... Shelby just went into the hospital. Wake up Shelby!

Worst remake I have ever seen

[rollanrenee · 1/10 · 14 September 2013]

What an absolute ATROCITY to the remake. I love lifetime movies but what the hell was that? Totally disgusting. Lifetime please stop making remakes of classic movies. I have to write 10 lines. So what else can I say. It sucked. Very poorly acted. Very, very disappointing when I found out they remade the movie. I was excited to watch it but 5 minutes into the movie I wanted to just poke my eyes out. Like I said what an atrocity to the remake. They should be ashamed. Worst acting I have ever seen. LEAVE REMAKES ALONE. LEAVE CLASSICS ALONE. And leave acting to people who can actually act. Very awful. Sucked. Worst I have seen.

Good remake

[Jarsrever · 8/10 · 13 October 2012]

I loved it wished it could of been longer though and had more ending like original. Queen Latiffa and cast did amazing so much like original cast loved loved loved. I loved they added parts too amazing remake. I was not sure if I would like it because its hard to top original movies but this did. I highly recommend this movie to everyone who loves the original. The acting was superb and so on. I accents were not so strong like in the original. It was easier to understand some parts. Great movie great actors great job lifetime. I hope to see more movies like this with good plots and good acting I love lifetime and will be a avid watcher of this channel Jill

Nothing Like The Classic

[antcraw · 6/10 · 19 June 2023]

While this was a solid performance by Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad, Alfre Woodard, and Adepero Oduye, it was too close to the original (down to the dialog) to not compare and too far away from the energy and chemistry between the characters in the original.

Queen Latifah brought a very different (I suspect intentional) energy to M'Lynn's character that just didn't work for me.

Although the original makes me cringe these days for its problematic undertones and the southern US antebellum feel, the performances by Sally Fields, Julia Roberts, Shirley McClain, Olympia Dukakis, Dolly Parton, Daryl Hannah, and Tom Skerritt are "unremakeable".

Terrible casting

[cakemixed923 · 1/10 · 12 February 2019]

I don't mind remakes, and most of the actors were good, especially Queen Latifah. But the actress they cast to play Shelby was absolutely awful. I don't understand why they cast her and why they didn't recast her after filming a few scenes. She is one of the worst actresses I've ever seen. Maybe if she was playing a lesser role I could've let it slide, but she's playing the main character!! She ruins the entire movie.

As Strong As Steel-Steel Magnolias ****

[edwagreen · 10/10 · 7 November 2012]

This is definitely an excellent film with Queen Latifah giving a superb performance as the strong-willed mother forced to come to grips with her daughter's decision to have a child, despite the fact that her health is failing and that such a pregnancy runs a very high risk of tragedy.

This wonderful film is a story of social relations within the beauty parlor. There are tremendous performances as well by Felicia Rashad, wife of the late mayor, and Alfre Woodard, a town gossip.

It is just wonderful to see these ladies interacting in better and tragic times.

I wish that the part of Annelle would have better developed. This young lady comes into the town with a story of her own and she adds plenty to the drama, as she desperately tries to fit in.

This is a story of great emotional endurance and to the realization that life goes on despite the tragedies we encounter.

Better than expected

[steeleronaldr · 7/10 · 10 October 2023]

Been awhile since there was a movie I couldn't wait to see and it was this one. First off let me say that the bulk of these reviews are comparing this to the original. I say if you write a review write it without comparing. True that these actresses had some pretty big shoes to fill and three were as big as the original actresses. Alfre Woodard is no Shirley McClain and didn't steal any scenes she was in. Queen Latifa was good but didn't have that punch that Sally Field had and Jill Scott was definitely no Dolly Parton. Condola Rashad did a descent job and acted like normal. Now I didn't expect these actresses to convey the story like the original but they more or less gave the movie a different vibe and that alone is a accomplishment.

The carnival scene and all those Easter eggs were omitted from this version and to be honest I thought that scene did nothing for the original as well but just to stretch the movie out more. The death scene in this movie had more of a punch I say but overall this movie was entertaining.

I gave it 7 out of 10 star's as the move as a whole lacked the certain punch and just doesn't hit the target.

This review came from a guy that has sat through some pretty bad movies I talking about the mockbusters that makes a cheaper version of a big budget with has been actor's that utterly miss the mark. Movies that had shoestring budget's and gone out of their way to prove it. I however will prefer the original as it has more heart than this.

Ouch

[Leeann-lucero · 1/10 · 17 June 2013]

The acting in this movie is painfully bad. It's so sad too because I really love Queen Latifah, Phylicia Rashad and Alfre Woodard. I was hoping for something good or at least palatable. This was like watching a high school play. There are some new scenes in the movie which is a good idea because when making a remake one must set the film apart from the original but the new scene at nothing. They actually take away from the movie. Additionally they give too much of a back story for Truvy and her husband. It serves no purpose. We got it the first time around. Ultimately the heroines lack strength and believability and there is no joy in this film. The characters in the first film did such a great job and were cast so perfectly that I knew it could be a pretty hard act to follow. I mean who wants to follow Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis and Shirley MacLaine? But I had high hopes that women would do them proud. They didn't.

No, just no

[LtlHippo · 1/10 · 30 June 2020]

Just because you can make a movie doesn't mean you should. This was awful.

Painful to watch . Whats next an all white version of Waiting to Exhale?

[BigWhiskers · 1/10 · 21 July 2013]

Why can't people leave things alone ? . I just don't get the playwright who based it on his own experiences within his own family wanting to redo it again using a black cast? . This movie is terrible on so many levels , from the painful awful acting , the ruining of classic scenes and lines ,the bad background music , the sets . I could go on and on.

I don't get why people feel the need to redo wonderful movies with TV movie of the week crap featuring terrible awful actors. Most of the people in this movie couldn't act if their lives depended on it . Watching Condola Rashad was beyond painful , she cannot act worth a sh** and I'm sorry but her mom is equally as awful and of course that explains why her daughter is in this , I hate it when actors put their kids in front of the camera simply because they can when their kids cant act and i stress cant. She ruins the character of Shelby and makes me sick , This movie is just so bad , so bad ,so bad. I wish it had never been made . I'd give it a minus -100 //

What in the world?

[cyn_is_in · 3/10 · 25 June 2013]

This is one remake that should have never been considered, let alone done.

First, the casting was all wrong. Why in the world would anyone, including Latifah, think she was the perfect choice to play the role Sallie Field's originated? Of those actresses, Phylicia Rashad would've played it best. Alfre Woodard would have been better playing Clarice and Jenifer Lewis would have been good as Ouiser. I like Jill Scott, I think she is a good actress, and she was good in her role. My issue was with her accent. She should not have attempted a southern accent. The other two actresses weren't bad in their parts. Their accents sucked too, but overall they were not that bad.

The original is a classic. The remake is a travesty.

No. Just No.

[trshmth-42422 · 7 October 2021]

I tried, really I tried, to enjoy this version. I didn't. About half way through it I was checking the time to see how much more there was to it. I kept hoping it would get better. In the original, The characters had a chemistry that enhanced their performances. You believed they liked each other, and were longtime friends. There was something missing, the attachment the characters were supposed to have for each other seemed forced. The actress playing Shelby missed the character's sense of humor and play, as well as her determination to live a normal life, despite having a devastating chronic illness. The scene in the cemetery in the original where there was laughter through tears is classic. You can't duplicate that.

Very Enjoyable As Its Own Film

[smooth_op_85 · 8/10 · 24 April 2015]

Of course the original can't be improved upon and many ask why did they decide to touch a classic film...and why just do a "black version"? That aside, I decided to look at the film as its own instead of comparing it to the original while keeping tabs about it more as a companion film So, most of us know the characters from the original we loved so much. Six wonderful women and their lives.

Casting here is amazing and Queen Latifah is an amazing M'Lynn. She plays the strong woman who has that moment of realness later in the movie and this one for me is great. I think she pulls it off well

Phylicia Rashad's Clairee is just stellar, and Alfre Woodard's Ouisie is very funny...the two together are just great

Rounding out the cast with Jill Scott, Adepero Oduye and Condola Rashad the latter 2 being young ladies they really did a great job as their respective characters. I liked Jill Scott as the very sweet woman who just wants her man's attention

All in all, while it's nearly a spot for spot of the original I enjoyed it because they had women that I related to that could have been my sister, Mom or Grandma

8 out of 10 stars all its own

No, just NOOOO!

[mimiybyazphil · 2/10 · 4 July 2020]

I have never heard such fake southern accents! As a GRITS, and a Black female, let me just say culturally speaking ,especially for women of a certain generation, the names Shelby and Jackson would have NEVER been used! This entire remake was like making Gone With The Wind with an ASIAN cast, just UNBELIEVABLE! and totally RIDICULOUS!!

Far, far better than the original

[HotToastyRag · 8/10 · 20 November 2020]

While everyone's seen the original Steel Magnolias, not everyone has seen the 2012 television remake. I actually liked the remake far better than the original, so I recommend giving it a chance if you didn't like the '80s version. If you did like the story, you'll probably enjoy seeing another group of women acting out Robert Harling's play.

In the original version, there was an estrogen-fest vibe that overwhelmed the rest of the movie. I wasn't able to get immersed in the dramatic story, since I was so obviously supposed to chuckle when Dolly Parton et al would give a quip. Their bonds of friendship seemed to rest on adding humor to very sad situations and not really delving into their feelings. In this remake, I truly felt the friendship. The group of women weren't merely actresses reciting lines, each wanting her timing to stand out amongst the rest; they were friends with shared history and memories. It felt far less of a wordy, witty stage play than the original did. If you like that style, stick with Sally Field.

I'll stick with Queen Latifah, who brings heart and depth to the role of M'Lynn (although she looked far too young to be playing the mother!). Sweet, innocent Shelby is played by Condola Rashad, and Queenie's loyal friends are Alfre Woodard, Phylicia Rashad, Adepero Oduye, and Jill Scott. It really all boils down to which cast you want to start with, since no woman is going to escape Steel Magnolias her entire life. Do you want to see Shirley MacLaine walk through her one-liners, or do you want to see Alfre Woodard's tender expressions behind her support? Did you love Olympia Dukakis's limited delivery, or did you think there was room for improvement? Is Sally Field believable as a devoted mother, or would you rather see someone with better acting chops taking the lead?

I think you can tell which version I recommend. Give it a shot, and if you don't like it, go back and rent the pseudo-comedy original. Steel Magnolias is such a dramatic story, I just don't see the point in trying to make it as funny as possible. If I suffered as M'Lynn suffered and all my friends did was quip one-liners, I'd want new friends.

Just plain wrong and a horrible remake of a timeless classic.

[lorelei963-568-170387 · 1/10 · 24 January 2014]

The original Steel Magnolias cannot be improved upon. It is classic and close to the heart of the Southern Lady. Funny, tragic and the line that says Laughter through tears is the best emotion is the most descriptive of this classic.

This remake would be the equivalent of trying make Madea into an old white lady. Simply loses all credibility, humor, and insults the wisdom of the viewer. All copies of this movie should be burned and never shown again. I love the actresses in the movie. I really can't believe they even did this or bought into the idea of this remake. They are good actresses and likable women. In this movie....it's just wrong, bad, and hard to watch.

Very Bad Remake Of The Original

[beachbodyrub74 · 3/10 · 21 May 2013]

Sorry, but this movie was bad. I mean really bad. The first movie was lighthearted and uplifting for the most part, making you feel proud of being a Southerner. This one was dark and depressing, and felt more like it was filmed in New York instead of Louisiana. All of the idiosyncrasies and accents that made the original truly Southern were barely existent here.

Alfre Woodard's portrayal of Weezer was more angry than eccentric. Felicia Rashaad's "Clerice" was too reserved. The girl who played the beauty shop assistant was not naive and unrefined enough.

In closing, I love the over the top nature of black comedies in general, and considering the cast that was present, I really expected better. They really did this movie a huge disservice.

so bad

[iamjamalwhite · 2/10 · 16 November 2020]

Like a high school play. should have left the original alone. skip this trash

Pale Imitation

[readerella · 2/10 · 16 May 2019]

I wanted to like this remake, but I just couldn't. Maybe if I'd never seen the original, I'd think more highly of it. But in the original, the relationships between the characters felt so strong it was almost something physical you could see and touch, and Sally Field's performance especially was extraordinary. This version felt very rote by comparison. They went through the same motions but the dance had no fire. I'm sorry, it's just not worth it. Stick with the original. Watching the original made me laugh and cry. Watching this version made me wince and feel bored.