This film is not in the same league as Callie Khouri's "Thelma and Louise", "Fried Green Tomatoes" or "Steel Magnolias". It is really slow, especially after the first hour, and even with some great actresses, I found myself looking at my watch, just waiting or it to come to a very predictable climax. And then it had an anti-climax, and then another anti-climax. Even though i did not read the book, it had to be far better than this film. Sorry, i wanted to like it, but just couldn't. It will probably make some money with marketing targeted to devotees of the book, but they too might be disappointed.