Meanwhile, Streep is a knockout, smoothly handling both the drama and the comedy — and even showing off a terrific singing voice. And MacLaine is also excellent, unafraid to allow herself to look bad and behave unsympathetically where required.

The script was written by actress Carrie Fisher, still perhaps best known as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" films, based on her own semi-autobiographical novel. Fisher grew up a Hollywood kid; her parents are Debbie Reynolds and Eddie Fisher.

As a first-time screenplay it isn't bad, but director Mike Nichols, who, despite success with "Working Girl" and "Heartburn," seems to me to be off his game in recent years, gives it an offhand, frivolous treatment so that the film itself feels as superficial as the Hollywood it is trying to lampoon.

Still, there are some wonderful moments here and the stars truly shine.

"Postcards from the Edge" is rated R, primarily for profanity, though there is drug use, brief nudity (Quaid in the shower) and some vulgar sex talk.