I only gave this movie 2 more stars because of Queen Latifah. If it wasn't for her, it deserves 1 star. She plays Gina Norris, a single mom (she lost her husband) and hairstylist who moves from Chicago to Atlanta. She's tired of working for narcissist Jorge (Kevin Bacon), so she purchases her own salon. Cue the endless racial caricatures, dialogue revolving around sexual junk, and obnoxious behavior. I'm a black woman who's been getting my hair done by a stylist for many years, and this is not an accurate representation of how black women interact with one another in a salon. We don't gossip and talk about nonsense - we have intellectual discussions. I know Beauty Shop is meant to be a comedy, but the characters are just so ridiculous. Personally, I find black movies to be embarrassing. They're always filled with overacting and stereotypes. I can't think of a black movie - a comedy, to be specific - that's innovative and has clever humor. Every black movie/comedy after the 1980s I've seen has cursing, insults, threats of violence, sex jokes, poverty, men who are gangsters/treat their girlfriend or wife like crap/can't keep a job. Considering how impactful movies are in American society, I really do believe they play a substantial role in how people who aren't black perceive black people in the general public. I'm not saying every white film is a masterpiece, comedy or otherwise, because some of them are terrible, but I've noticed they often have characters who are unique, articulate, and fascinating more so than black films. Beauty Shop was easier to get through than a Madea movie (you need a bottle of aspirins handy if you're going to watch Madea), but it wasn't all that creative. The white girl (played by Alicia Silverstone) wanting to be black was just lame. It's sad to see Alfre Woodard, Octavia Spencer, and Keshia Knight Pulliam, who are all talented black actresses, playing in this cringe inducing mess. If you really want to see it, rent it from the library. It's not worth buying on DVD.
Review of Beauty Shop
