If it contains hokiness and cornpone, these are not served in portions so large they can't be swallowed, and there are at least enough quality ingredients to aid digestion.

Do not be deterred by the indigestible title nor, if feministically inclined, by the fact that it is directed by mere man Jon Avnet. It is funny, cleverly constructed, often rather moving, and only occasionally allows sentiment to slop over the bucket.

[A] clunky, fraudulent, yet apparently crowd-pleasing laugh-and-tear-jerker.

The treacly 'Fried Green Tomatoes' wouldn't be the long-standing crowd-pleaser it is without Bates, Tandy, Masterson, and Parker infusing it with charisma.