BILLE WOODRUFF

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BB  

USA, 2005.  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, State Street Pictures, Mandeville Films, Flavor Unit Entertainment.  Story by Elizabeth Hunter, Screenplay by Kate Lanier, Norman Vance Jr..  Cinematography by Theo van de Sande.  Produced by Shakim Compere, David Hoberman, Queen Latifah, Robert Teitel, George Tillman Jr..  Music by Christopher Young.  Production Design by Jon Gary Steele.  Costume Design by Sharen Davis.  Film Editing by Michael Jablow.  

Spin-off from the Barbershop franchise gives Queen Latifah, who had a cameo in Barbershop 2, her own film. She plays a widow with a small daughter who, at the beginning of the film, has packed them up and moved from Chicago to Atlanta, where she works in the chic salon of an unkind, self-important stylist (Kevin Bacon in a ridiculous caricature). One day she decides she’s had enough and walks out on the job, switching to her dream of owning her own shop, which after a few minor bumps in the road she accomplishes.

Much like the previous two films, this one concentrates on watching the employees of the titular establishment in their place of business as they tend to the needs of their customers and discuss current issues with each other. Unfortunately, unlike in the original Barbershop, the characters are too broad and flat, and the conversations are silly and very rarely go anywhere challenging or important. Latifah’s winsome personality at least makes it worth seeing through to the end, and Djimon Hounsou is lovely as her love interest.