YMMV / Steel Magnolias

• Adaptation Displacement: The play isn't exactly obscure, but the movie's much better known.
• Alternative Character Interpretation: Two lines from Shelby reveal Jackson is just as determined as she is to have a child. When she told him she couldn't have children, he said they'd adopt, and then said, "We'll buy 'em if we have to." Later, when she informs M'Lynn of her pregnancy, she says that she and Jackson were getting desperate, and after their plans to adopt fell through, he actually made good on that promise and started to look into where they could buy an infant off the black market. One has to wonder if this is a big part of why Shelby decided to carry to term despite knowing the risks; she knew that if she and Jackson went through with buying a child and got caught, they'd be in huge trouble. Going to jail, losing your child, and possibly scarring the poor kid for life trouble. A risky pregnancy might have seemed like the lesser of two evils.
• Awesome Music: Georges Delerue is in top form here. He would use an almost identical score for Joe Versus the Volcano.
• Ensemble Dark Horse: Ouiser. Being a hilarious Deadpan Snarker with all the good lines will do that.
• It Was His Sled: Shelby's premature death from her diabetes.
• Jerkass Woobie: Shelby certainly didn't have it easy, having to live with a severe form of Type 1 Diabetes, and it is heartbreaking that she died at a painfully young age, and never had a chance to see her son grow up. However, she was still very rude towards her poor mother, who was understandably worried about her health (especially when she announced that she was pregnant), and went against the warning of all her doctors (and her mother) in order to have a child of her own, which she believed would give her "30 minutes of wonderful", in spite of the fact that she knew it would eventually kill her.
• Retroactive Recognition: While Julia Roberts earned herself an Academy Award nomination for the role, she was nowhere near the star she's become after Pretty Woman.
• Signature Scene: If there's one part of this film and play everyone remembers, it's the absolutely heartwrenching scene where M'Lynn grieves over Shelby and screams, asking why Shelby had to die before she did... and the absolutely hysterical scene where Clairee suggests M'Lynn punch Ouiser that immediately follows it.
• Tear Dryer: In-Universe example as well when Clairee tries to get M'Lynn to punch Ouiser to help her cope with the grief of losing Shelby. They even lampshade the best kind of laughter is after tears.
• Unintentionally Unsympathetic: While it's very sad that Shelby died so tragically at a young age, she was still rather rude and impudent towards her kind and caring mother, who was sincerely worried about her well-being and health. Not to mention that she got pregnant against the advice of multiple doctors, resulting in what they all warned her about: kidney failure and ultimately a failed transplant and her young son left motherless.
• Values Dissonance: Clairee telling Jack Jr. a story at the end about a real person from their community (Ouiser) as a mean, wicked witch, which causes the little boy to cry and slap the real Ouiser when he next sees her, could be interpreted as mildly traumatizing the boy for comedic effect.
• The Woobie: Annelle, that is until Truvy hires her, and she finds her one true love.
  • Jack Jr, who is merely a toddler when his mother dies right before taking him trick or treating, and is visibly confused and scared when his father comes home to find Shelby lying unconscious on the floor.