BEAUTY SHOP
US, 2005, 105 minutes, Colour.
Queen Latifah, Alicia Silverstone, Andie Mc Dowell, Alfrey Woodard, Mena Suvari, Della Reese, Paige Hurd, Li’l Jay- Jay, Dgimon Hounsou, Kevin Bacon.
Directed by Bille Woodruff.
After two Barber Shop movies, directed especially towards an African American audience, it seems only fair for the men to have a rest and for us to see a female equivalent. So, here is Queen Latifah in Beauty Shop.
It is a good-natured show, though some self-consciously sensitive audiences have felt that it is inversely racist and indulges in stereotypes. But, isn’t that what broad comedies do? Isn’t that how they work? Stiff upper lip Poms? Loud Yanks? Snobby French? Brash Australians? Everything can be the subject of jokes and humour.
That having been said, the main target of aggressive jokes is Kevin Bacon as the most pseudo of European coiffeurs with a closet full of affectations. He is the ‘hiss the villain’ for this kind of feelgood show.
When Queen Latifah has had enough of Bacon’s snide comments, she opens up her own beauty shop with the help of mother (Della Reese) and talented musician daughter. Some of her old co-workers and clients join her (Alicia Silverstone as a very white Georgia girl in the middle of a black staff as well as Andie Mc Dowell and Mena Suvari as clients). Plenty of things go wrong and we join in hoping that all will be put right. Plenty of things go right and the beauty shop becomes a haven and a rendezvous – though a lot of the time we are just listening in to girl’s gossip.
Fortunately, there is a gallant gentleman living upstairs (Djimon Hounsou) who can fix electric connections, can play the piano and teach Latifah’s daughter and is not married so is available for the romantic part of the film. Who could ask for anything more?
One critic was heard to say loudly that he could not stand Queen Latifah because she is always the same, so pleased with herself - with her genial screen presence and warmth, why shouldn’t she be?
1. The audience for this film? African Americans? The wider audience? Reaching its targets in theme, characters, humour?
2. The Barber Shop films and their popularity? The basic plot, the shop, the staff, the clients, the interactions? Social comment? Comedy?
3. The Atlanta setting, Jorge’s shop, the run-down shop that Gina buys, the make-over? Homes, schools, recitals? An authentic atmosphere? The musical score, popular songs? Classical pieces for the piano? The mixture of contemporary and classic?
4. Jorge’s shop, Jorge and Kevin Bacon’s extravagant satiric performance? Moody, effete, mannerisms? His treatment of his staff, clients? His manner of speaking? The comedy in the character, white? His dismissing Lyn, dismissing Gina? His attitude towards his clients, his own inability as a beauty parlour assistant? His schemes against Gina, Willie filming him paying off the inspector? His wanting the beauty shop destroyed? The final expose – and his being George Christopher from Nebraska?
5. Gina, at work, cheerful, Queen Latifah’s personality and presence? Her relationship with her daughter? Hopes for her, the memory of the dead father? With the clients, with Lyn, cheerful, skilful? The clashes with Jorge, her deciding to leave?
6. At home, her mother and her support, her daughter and her education? Hopes for a better school? Going to the bank, asking for the loan, the refusal, helping the woman with her hairstyle in the ladies’ room and the immediate grant? Going to the property, its being run-down, the optimism in setting it up?
7. The interviews with the previous staff, those who left and were bitter? Those who stayed? Lyn coming with Gina after Jorge humiliated her when she tried to work in the salon? Lyn and her background, Georgia, white, emulating black styles? The clashes with the other staff, their finally doing her hair, her fitting in, attracted towards James?
8. The clients, Terri and her absent husband, her continually in a rush, socialite? Gina doing her hair? Her coming to her, supporting her, her enjoyment of the beauty shop and the staff – and the buttock transplant?
9. Joanne, her style, coming to Gina’s, helping her with her lotion? Her attitude towards James, pinching him, the clash with Lyn, wanting Lyn sacked? Her resentment and taking away the contract?
10. The members of the staff, Miss Josephine, lively, quoting Maya Angelou? Her fitting in, the comedy? The other members of the staff, their style, patter? Support of Gina? The trashing of the beauty shop – and their all pitching in and helping to renew it?
11. Darnell and her being a problem at home, Gina feeling a sense of responsibility, Darnell going out, having to be bailed out, not wanting her mother to know? Her working in the shop, doing what she wanted, going off, Gina’s stern stance, Darnell coming to her senses?
12. James, his being a carrier, Gina attracted towards him, his braids, his ability with doing hair, the presumption that he was gay, his mannerisms, watching Oprah? Falling in love with Lyn?
13. Joe, playing the piano, upstairs? His background and explanations, the photo of his sister’s family? His being a handyman, not willing to help at first, stepping in in emergencies, falling in love with Gina, teaching her daughter to play the piano? The outing, the dancing? His going to the daughter’s recital? A happy ending for Gina?
14. The comedy of the staff, their patter, African American humour?
15. The inspector, his harshness, the fines, his being in the pay of Jorge? His comeuppance?
16. Willie, intrusive, Gina throwing him out, his video camera, his comic style, photographing Jorge with the inspector and having the trump card to save Gina?
17. A cheerful film, using the stereotypes – but in an enjoyable way?
