La vida es un pastel

Cutesy poo to the max even with a brain tumor.

BEACHES with a cake thrown in makes this a crumby affair of two female pals to try to bait men in bars by baking cakes and handing out slices. What's wrong with this picture?

Would bars and other venues actually allow people to bring in cakes and hand them out for free? Seems doubtful. And while this plot issue is never addressed, what about the female perp date rapist? I guess it's OK if the perp is a female?

The only ones in this film who come off as real are the parents played by Martha Kelley and Ron Livingston. All the others are duds.

And what's with Bette Midler in this nothing role? It's basically just a cameo and serves no purpose.

Watch this 2-hour dirge and you'll be screaming at the screen DIE! DIE ALREADY! .... even before the tumor shows up!

<3 such a lovely and warm watch - yara shahidi shines! All the best elements of a fun tale of friendship. I laughed! I cried! I treasured what was not fiction (*the magic of friendship*)! WE loves titles that prioritize friendship and love with a perfect ending. Wish I could take a slice to-go but instead I will be rewatching quarterly. Odessa is also a star in this flick, as both young women show humility and promise in their empathetic depictions of such a story! Also love that they honoured Shahidi's family ensuring that her real family dynamic is depicted, as a black and iranian young lady!

Shy Jane (Yara Shahidi) and outgoing Corinne (Odessa A'zion) are longtime best friends living together in L. A. Jane likes to bake cakes and brings one to a club. Corinne suggests keep making cakes for their club nights. There is a dark life turn.

The cake premise is silly. I get that it's a true story. It's silly as preparation for this dark turn. Jane needs to be more shy and nerdy. Corinne is bringing her out of her shell. The movie should steer harder into that premise. Yara Shahidi is too self-assured. She's a cool chick. Her persona is far from Jane. The movie needs to try harder or pick another actress. Once the dark turn happens, It's sappy to the core and that's great. It should wallow in the sappiness. I'm happy with the second half.

If you are expecting a romance or comedy, this is not the movie for you. But it is a lovely movie of friendship and finding and following your dreams. Good cast. Clever premise. A different take on the coming of age movie that's relevant to today's world. Bring lots and lots and lots of tissues because you will start crying halfway through it and won't necessarily stop crying. Heart wrenchingly lovely-you should be clued in by Bette Midler that you will be getting something more like Beaches. The cakes are fantastic to look at and in the end you'll be satisfied, as long as you realize Corrine is a foil and it's all about Jane.

I didn't know anything about this movie before I watched it. After watching it, I would recommend it to everyone. It's a feel good movie in the sense that two lifelong best friends show how when you find "your person" they become framily, and framily gets you: good, bad or indifferent. It's about seeing the best in other people and wanting to help them shine.

This movie is bittersweet, and sad at times, but it never loses sight of its original intent. I recommend watching it with your best friend, or someone you feel close too, and afterwards reminding them how much they mean to you! Bette Midler is fabulous as always!