AllMovie

While it never truly escapes its theatrical origins, Robert Harling's tale of a gaggle of loquacious Southern belles manages to succeed as a straightforward entertainment. More sentimental and heavy-handed than it needs to be, the movie nevertheless has a major selling point: it creates full-bodied characters for a talented troupe of A-list actresses, many of whom never get an opportunity to play roles that are as much fun. The film expands on the original six-character outline to include the men in these women's lives, but not to much success, as the actresses dominate the film throughout. Magnolias is well cast right down the line (only Sally Field takes her part too far over the top), with a luminous early role for Julia Roberts in the most affecting performance. Oddly enough, the film is often compared to Terms of Endearment, the film to which Harling would write and direct the sequel The Evening Star, an effort that failed to capitalize on either of these films' strengths or their impressive box office.