Movie Notes: Beauty Shop

April 2nd, 2008

= 3 stars

Starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone, Kevin Bacon
Directed by Billie Woodruff

Synopsis

Fed up with her boss Jorge (Kevin Bacon), hair stylist Gina (Queen Latifah) opens her own beauty shop. Much of the entertainment comes from the unusual characters that work, patronize, and hang out at Gina’s new hair salon.

The Good

• Sassy yet empowering, Queen Latifah is this movie’s rock around which all else revolves.
• Some amusing racial humor at the expense of “token white people,” namely snooty Jorge (Kevin Bacon), and shampoo girl Lynn (Alicia Silverstone).
• Due to Kevin Bacon’s presence, you can add Djimon Hounsou to the 6 Degrees Game.
• What the heck is monkey bread?

The Bad

• There’s little mystery to the identity of the saboteur (think: which character is the biggest jerk?) who seeks to destroy Gina’s beauty shop. It’s also obvious who will prevail in the end.
• Minus Queen Latifah, this flick wouldn’t exist. It’s a largely harmless star vehicle with many smaller cameos.

Conclusion

Ultimately, inconsequential entertainment — an innocuous rental with a few chuckles to be forgotten the next day.

IMBD: Beauty Shop
Wikipedia: Beauty Shop
Rotten Tomatoes: Beauty Shop 40%