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When it comes to jaw-dropping stunts, TV and film actors are often known for pushing their limits—much like Stephen Amell did in the Arrow TV series. Setting the bar high with his salmon ladder sequence, Amell showcased the pinnacle of superhero training, without a stunt team’s assistance, in the pilot episode.

Stephen Amell as Oliver Queen in Arrow | image: CW, DC Studios

But then, Tom Cruise seemingly made Stephen Amell hold his popcorn, after performing a next-level stunt at 53, in his 2015 movie Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. Dangling from a pole, crunching up to kick, and then flipping out like he’s been warming up, Cruise’s pole dance made even the most seasoned stunt performers question their life choices.

Stephen Amell’s Mind-Blowing Salmon Ladder Stunt in Arrow

Considering how stunt works often showcase an actor’s dedication to their roles, Stephen Amell seemingly took his work...

Beauty Shop plays like a pilot for a TV sitcom. It sets up enough story threads for an entire season yet nothing much actually happens during the 105-minute running time. Queen Latifah anchors the comedy, so the movie reflects her personality: Its good-natured, occasionally ribald humor carries you along even when the story flags. This spinoff from the popular Barbershop movies will appeal primarily to black audiences, but the triumvirate of Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell and Mena Suvari should help attract a sizable white female crowd for MGM as well.

One can sum up the story fairly succinctly: Outraged over her boss' criticism and demands, Queen Latifah's Gina Norris -- a character introduced in Barbershop 2 -- quits a hair-styling job at an ultraposh Atlanta salon, secures a tiny loan to buy a rundown beauty shop of her own, rehabs the place and suffers a few mildly amusing ups and downs as she gets into business for herself. And that is about it.

As with the Barbershop series, the setting provides a nifty location for characters to come and go while exchanging opinions on everything from their sex lives to their lifestyles. Kate Lanier and Norman Vance Jr.'s screenplay hits all the obvious marks: It does the is-he-gay-or-straight thing and the black-vs.-white attitude thing. What it doesn't do is the story thing.

A nominal conflict comes in attempts to sabotage Gina's business by her former boss, Jorge (Kevin Bacon in a flamboyant, open shirt, long, droopy hair with blond highlights and vague Mittel Europa accent). The rest of the movie is given over to a cast of eccentric characters firing verbal missiles at each other.

Gina's crew includes a spirited Alfre Woodard as Miss Josephine, so deep into black culture that she frequently bursts into quotes from Maya Angelou. Golden Brooks plays sassy-mouthed Chanel, who weighs in with an opinion whether anyone wants to hear it or not. Silverstone's Lynn is white and country, which makes it doubly difficult to fit into the otherwise all-black beauty shop. Lord knows she tries, but her every word and gesture screams "white."

Sherri Sheperd's Ida is seven months pregnant, but that puts no damper on her libido or imagination. Keshia Knight Pulliam is Darnelle, Gina Wild's and rebellious sister-in-law, who lets her hormones overrule her sense. Gina's daughter Vanessa, played by Paige Hurd, loves piano playing, so she takes a shine to the upstairs electrician, Joe (Djimon Hounsou), who plays a pretty mean piano himself. She is not, however, the only female in the beauty parlor who takes a shine to Joe.

Among Jorge's clients who switch to Gina's is Suvari's Joanne, a perky, shallow socialite with what turns out to be a very mean streak. MacDowell's Terri is another socialite, whose change in salons triggers such major changes in her life as a newly discovered fondness for soul food and the ability to see the truth about her tattered marriage.

Director Bille Woodruff (Honey) keeps things moving at a steady pace, but he does hit empty air pockets where even a sharp pace can't disguise the lack of dramatic momentum. All tech credits are pro, though production values do reflect the film's modest budget.

BEAUTY SHOP

MGM

State Street Pictures/Mandeville Films/Flavor Unit Films

Credits:

Director: Bille Woodruff

Screenwriters: Kate Lanier, Norman Vance Jr.

Story by: Elizabeth Hunter

Producers: David Hoberman, Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr., Queen Latifah, Shakim Compere

Executive producers: Todd Lieberman, Ice Cube, Matt Alvarez

Director of photography: Theo van de Sande

Production designer: Jon Gary Steele

Music: Christopher Young

Co-producer: Louise Rosner

Costumes: Sharen Davis

Editor: Michael Jablow

Cast:

Gina Norris: Queen Latifah

Lynn: Alicia Silverstone

Terri Green: Andie MacDowell

Miss Josephine: Alfre Woodard

Joanne: Mena Suvari

Jorge: Kevin Bacon

Joe: Djimon Hounsou

Mrs. Towner: Della Reese

MPAA rating PG-13

Running time -- 105 minutes...