I was expecting August: Osage County to be a chick flick. Steel Magnolias with dash of The Big Chill. I was not prepared for the venom that soaked almost every scene. The trailer — and much of the marketing — pitches this as a comedy. I found the humor grim and painful. If you want a happy ending, slip out and watch whatever’s showing in the next theater. You ain’t gonna get one with this movie and the bottom is a long way down.

“Good thing we can’t see the future. We’d never get out of bed.”

The main characters were women so I was surprised to learn that Tracy Letts (who adapted his stage play for the big screen) was a man. Not that men can’t write great women’s parts, but… just see the movie.

I found the profane dialogue powerful and real. Hard to believe Mr. Letts didn’t grow up listening to people who talked that way. This was not the first time Julia Roberts said “Eat the fuckin’ fish!”

Nothing I can say about Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts you haven’t heard or read, but every every actor brought their A game.

No need to rush out to the theater to see this one, it will be just as powerful on your TV. Might be fun to get everyone in the living room after Thanksgiving dinner and watch this as a family.