Good story, Not enough for a whole film

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The story is riveting and the acting flawless. I loved this movie. And I saw a screening on the same weekend as I saw 2 big box-office films. This one way outshone the others in every way. The story was told with flashbacks in a way that revealed more and more of the linear story as the film progressed. The ensemble acting made you feel you were there with these sisters. And the scenes between each sister and mother deepened our understanding of each character. The screenwriter is not only a wonderful scriptwriter, but also a novelist and we get to know these characters in a way that is usually possible only in novels. There is humor, sometimes dark, but always real that comes from the story, never thrown in merely to break the tension.

I agree with the other reviewers who have noted that this is a fabulous film filled with five strong female characters - the wildly different four sisters (named after cities) who come together after their mother's death. The writing is witty, suspenseful, and with deep character insight... there's not a cliché to be found in this script by Colette Freedman.It is by turns hilarious, touching, surprising, and gasp inducing. The four sisters are acted brilliantly, with Jess Weixler a standout as the writer who tanked after a single best seller, and went home to live with mom. It is she who shows (initially) the most courage, but where this brings the others will surprise you. .. Stana Katic is stunning as the ice princess eldest sister on track to be a judge, with Michelle Trachtenberg on point as a somewhat prissy, uptight woman who harbors her own secrets, and the effervescent Troian Bellisario as the youngest is simply a delight. Flashbacks show both the mom and three of the sisters much younger, and so the cast is almost entirely female (with small but well conceived roles featuring the always excellent Edward Molina and handsome Tom Everett Scott) making this a female dominated film in precisely the way that nearly all Hollywood films are male dominated. And guess what... It's fabulous. Agree with the other reviewer, more of these please.

An stunning film that will pull at your heartstrings as it touches upon the bond of four sisters and the quality of life of their mother who was living with a debilitating disease before she died.The acting is stellar and the script draws you right in. Each sister has her own, very unique personality, but they rally together in the end for their mother's sake. They realized that that's what she would have wanted. I was in tears and deeply moved by the end of the movie. Definitely be prepared with tissues.It's a beautiful indie film that everyone should feast their heart and eyes on!

SMART WOMEN. Smart women who are not defined by a male character. All of them- so well written and fleshed out. Lovely acting all around. Was enamored with Troyan Bellisario- whom I had never seen. Deftly directed with nuance and care. At times funny and others, gut-wrenching. But never fell into the stereotypical UBER-FEELY trap that many female driven fare can. Really just a total GEM of a film. Was at a screening where the audience was both laughing and crying, a successful story in my book. Was also wonderful to see Jackie Weaver in a lovely turn as their flawed but original matriarch.BRAVO LIFETIME for backing SMART, FEMALE DRIVEN FARE!!