Midler is a classic figure -- a grinning urchin out of Volpone. Her appetite is the audience’s appetite. It’s as if she and we were passing a flask of euphoria back and forth.

People running into each other can be funny, but when they just miss, what are we supposed to do? Slap our knees and say, "Lord a-mighty, they dern near ran into each other and wouldn't that have been funny!"

This is easily the most enjoyable film that we have seen since Down and Out in Beverly Hills.

Midler and Tomlin master four separate characterizations with zingers, press on nails, mint juleps, and sass to match.