Girls Trip

So glad I did not waste my money going to the theater to see this. Most of the cast I like, but most of the movie was just over the top stupid. I really hope that save their money and not make a Part 2.

This film begins with four women named "Ryan Pierce" (Regina Hall), "Sasha Franklin" (Queen Latifah), "Lisa Cooper" (Jada Pinkett Smith) and "Dina" (Tiffany Haddish) enjoying their youth so much that they formed a group known as the Flossy Posse and became almost inseparable. However, like so many things in life, time and events proceeded to take their toll and each of them eventually go their separate ways. But then one day Ryan decides to invite the other three to accompany her on what is essentially a business trip to New Orleans and in no time the Flossy Posse hits Bourbon Street with the single intent on riding high once more. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this film had an interesting plot along with several humorous scenes thrown in for good measure. Unfortunately, there were also a few completely unnecessary scenes of a rather crude and vulgar nature thrown in which not only diminished the film as a whole but almost ruined what could have been a very good comedy. At least, that is my opinion. That being said, I have rated this movie accordingly. Slightly below average.

Ryan Pierce (Regina Hall) has the perfect life. She married her nice college football player boyfriend Stewart. She wrote the book "You can have it all". The couple is on the verge of a big media deal to be the next cultural icon. She has drifted from her longtime friends "The Flossy Posse" and decides to bring them on her speaking trip to New Orleans. Sasha Franklin (Queen Latifah) has abandoned her journalistic dreams and is struggling as an internet gossip columnist. Lisa Cooper (Jada Pinkett Smith) has turned into a safe stay-at-home mom. Dina (Tiffany Haddish) is a wild crazy girl. Sasha gets a tip that Stewart has cheated on Ryan.

This could have been a standard black girls' wild out on their lives fitting into the BET rotation with countless others. It's elevated by a couple of factors. The first is the wild performance from Tiffany Haddish. She's a comedian working her craft and getting some notice as a supporting character in The Carmichael Show. She's the wildly inappropriate character every broad modern comedies need but she does it with a smile and an inner joy. She's half clueless and half callous. The fruit fellatio scene is hilarious. The second is the writing from Kenya Barris, Black-ish creator, and Tracy Oliver. This creates some compelling characters which these experienced actors are able to inhabit. It is a broad comedy with heart. It's got the gross-out, highly-inappropriate jokes which really works here. The actors bring a humanity to their roles. They are ready to come out and set it off.

I am not one to go to the theater to see a comedy. I prefer big budget Hollywood blockbusters, science fiction, etc. but I love all Jada, Queen, and Regina so I wanted to support (plus I got free tickets to an advanced screening, so why not LOL). Low and behold, I have never laughed so hard at a comedy movie in a very long time and I mean like laugh out loud, ugly noise funny.

While everyone has funny moments throughout the film, the real star of the show is Tiffany Haddish. She delivers the funniest one liners, punchlines, every-lines. She was definitely the highlight.

Now I will say that for most avid movie goers, the plot isn't too original. If you are a comedy lover then you have definitely seen a version of this movie before; four friends who have lost their mojo go on a fun filled weekend where everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Their friendship is tested and their lives are changed forever. Nothing too unique but the characters and the setting make it enjoyable to watch. I thought that the writers choosing such a prestigious event like Essence Festival as the backdrop of the storyline was genius and much needed. It's great that the world can see inside such a huge cultural event for the black community.

Of course, this movie will be donned (by some) as a "black movie" but it's nothing of the sort. Many themes and jokes are definitely inspired by a culture birthed from the black community but the film can be enjoyed by all races and adult ages. I was even surprised when I got the the advanced screening to see so many diverse faces and age groups. Plus the theater erupted in laughter the entire time.

I definitely recommend this film. You won't be disappointed. It's the funnies thing I have seen since Key and Peele's show!

"Girls Trip" is another "women can be raunchy too" comedy, one that from the trailer didn't look funny at all, but hey…at least they don't kill a stripper in this one (Rough Night).

Here, best friends who have only grown further apart since High School are hoping to reconnect at the Essence Festival in New Orleans.

They're all basically types. Regina Hall has the most to work with as the one who only thinks she has it all together. The rest are the crazy one (Tiffany Haddish), obsessive one (Jada Pinkett), and gossipy one (Queen Latifah).

Through it all the girls will be brought on stage to dance with Puffy, have a dance-off with another set of girls, get into many fist fights and all kinds of other trouble.

It will also go for the most R-rated and nasty of crude jokes.

People I saw this movie with laughed through out at all of it and for their part, all four of these women embarrass themselves and get down and dirty very well.

Particularly this Tiffany Haddish, who will either annoy you or be your favorite part. She goes to some darkly funny places here the characters in Suicide Squad could only dream of.

But for all this talk of women in comedy, doing the same dick jokes men have been doing for so long really shouldn't be the apex. This is really just conquering a mole hill.

And please no more comedies that go over 2 hours long, particularly one like this where the plot suddenly has to kick in in the last half hour and it's just as generic as every other comedy about friendship.

On the one hand this is all really flimsy stuff which I got kinda tired of after 90 minutes, but it's also fun, tries hard for laughs, is very well cast and Hall has some good scenes in the last half.

I'd give it 6 out of 10 but I think if you can get past the clichés and you like toilet humor for a more than necessary period of time, you'll enjoy it a bit more.

If you liked this, please check out Craig James Review on Youtube for more.