Waiting to Exhale

( 3 )

Overview

A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man. Robin Lela Rochon is the long-time mistress of Russell Leon, who keeps reneging on his promise to leave his wife for her. She dumps him to find a man she can have to herself, but her dates with a ...
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Overview

A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man. Robin Lela Rochon is the long-time mistress of Russell Leon, who keeps reneging on his promise to leave his wife for her. She dumps him to find a man she can have to herself, but her dates with a reliable but unattractive business partner Wendell Pierce and a drug addict Mykelti Williamson send her back to Russell. Savannah Whitney Houston is a successful television producer who also believes that her married lover Kenneth Dennis Haysbert will leave his wife. Bernadine Angela Bassett is a wealthy woman who abandoned her own career to raise a family. Her husband is now leaving her to marry a white woman. Gloria Loretta Devine is a beauty salon owner and single mother raising a teenage son. After years alone, she falls in love with a new neighbor, Marvin Gregory Hines. The women share their stories over lunches and conversations at Gloria's salon. ~ Michael Betzold
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Editorial Reviews

Barnes & Noble - Kryssa Schemmerling
Fastidiously adapted from Terry McMillan's bestselling, award-winning novel, Waiting to Exhale is the quintessential African-American "chick flick." It revolves around four reasonably well-to-do southwestern suburbanites Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, and Lela Rochon afflicted with the same malady: an inexplicable inability to attract male partners willing to commit to long-term relationships. Exhale interweaves the stories of its quartet of protagonists as they unfold over a year's time. Pop diva Houston, not surprisingly, plays the film's most glamorous character, but her thesping is easily surpassed by that of Devine, whose earthy charm provides a welcome counterpoint to Whitney's theatricality. The meatiest role goes to Bassett, who displays considerable range under the direction of Forest Whitaker Hope Floats. The male cast members, including Gregory Hines, Dennis Haysbert, Mykelti Williamson, and an unbilled Wesley Snipes, are equally effective, though not nearly as sympathetic. Whitaker disdains flashy narrative technique but painstakingly delineates his principal characters -- and makes us care about them. Attesting to the success of his approach was the subsequent appearance of several similarly themed imitations, none as popular or as accomplished as Waiting to Exhale.
Barnes & Noble - Ed Hulse
Squabbling sisters Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox, and Nia Long supply dynamic performances to Soul Food, a heartwarming drama celebrating family values in the African-American community. At the film's emotional core is strong-willed Chicago matriarch Mother Joe Irma P. Hall, whose extravagant Sunday dinners have been uniting family members for decades. But a long-simmering feud between oldest daughter Teri Williams and youngest daughter Bird Long flares up dramatically, threatening to split the clan apart. Then Mother Joe falls ill, and grandson Ahmad Brandon Hammond takes it upon himself to ease tensions by continuing the family tradition. First-time writer-director George Tillman Jr. juggles multiple subplots with admirable dexterity, and brings a wealth of keenly observed psychological detail to his characterizations of Mother Joe, the sisters, their respective spouses, and offspring. His facile manipulation of a multilayered story, coupled with the winning performances of a richly talented ensemble, makes Soul Food a particularly tasty dish. Tillman discusses the film in an audio commentary recorded for this Director's Edition DVD, which also includes a behind-the-scenes featurette and several music videos produced under the supervision of hip-hop impresario Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds.
All Movie Guide - Michael Costello
Forrest Whitaker's film version of Terry McMillan's best-seller about the romantic woes of four African-American women is an entertaining soap opera. Each of these middle- to upper-middle-class women (Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine) have reason to bewail the quality of men they've been involved with, and here they give vent to their anger. Whitaker's film gives these women plenty of room to stretch out, some might say too much. The film has some wonderful moments, such as Bassett burning her rich husband's clothes when he dumps her, and some hilarious riffs on their various boyfriends' sexual peccadillos, but there are also swatches of banality that could easily have been cut. None of the relationships of the women are probed in depth, and, appropriately, most of the male characters exist only to illustrate a point. Among the few exceptions is Gregory Hines, who has a nice turn as a laid-back handyman who hooks up with Devine. Despite their problems with men, the film is really a backhanded tribute to both the independence and sustaining friendship of these four women.

Forrest Whitaker's film version of Terry McMillan's best-seller about the romantic woes of four African-American women is an entertaining soap opera. Each of these middle- to upper-middle-class women (Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, and Loretta Devine) have reason to bewail the quality of men they've been involved with, and here they give vent to their anger. Whitaker's film gives these women plenty of room to stretch out, some might say too much. The film has some wonderful moments, such as Bassett burning her rich husband's clothes when he dumps her, and some hilarious riffs on their various boyfriends' sexual peccadillos, but there are also swatches of banality that could easily have been cut. None of the relationships of the women are probed in depth, and, appropriately, most of the male characters exist only to illustrate a point. Among the few exceptions is Gregory Hines, who has a nice turn as a laid-back handyman who hooks up with Devine. Despite their problems with men, the film is really a backhanded tribute to both the independence and sustaining friendship of these four women.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 1/22/2002
  • UPC: 024543028598
  • Original Release: 1995

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20th Century Fox
  • Format: VHS

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Whitney Houston Savannah Jackson
Angela Bassett Bernadine Harris
Loretta Devine Gloria Johnson
Lela Rochon Robin Stokes
Gregory Hines Marvin
Dennis Haysbert Kenneth
Michael Beach John Sr.
Wren T. Brown Minister
Starletta DuPois Savannah's Mother
Giancarlo Esposito Tarik's Father (uncredited)
Donald Faison Tarik
Graham Galloway Fireman
Brandon Hammond John, Jr.
Lamont Johnson Joseph
Leon Russell
Wendell Pierce Michael
Jeffrey D. Sams Lionel
Wesley Snipes James (uncredited)
Ezra Swerdlow Wild Bill
Mykelti Williamson Troy
Technical Credits
Forest Whitaker Director
Ronald Bass Executive Producer, Screenwriter
Jaki Brown-Karman Casting
Tim Chau Musical Direction/Supervision
Richard Chew Editor
Kenneth Edmonds Score Composer
Marc Fisichella Art Director
Michael Foxworthy Set Decoration/Design
Kirk R. Gardner Camera Operator
David Gropman Production Designer
Caron K Associate Producer, Asst. Director
Toyomichi Kurita Cinematographer
Terry McMillan Executive Producer, Screenwriter
Joseph Ray Asst. Director
Judy Ruskin Costumes/Costume Designer
Deborah Schindler Producer
Ezra Swerdlow Producer
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 3 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(2)

4 Star

(1)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

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1 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews

  • Posted October 1, 2010

    I Also Recommend:

    How to Make an American Quilt
    Diary of a Mad Black Woman - The Movie
    How Stella Got Her Groove Back

    How Could a Woman Survive Without Her Girlfriends?

    A story of four 'best girlfriends' living through what proves to be a life-changing year for all of them. This is a story EVERY woman can identify with. Who among us has never wanted to throw our Ex's things out into the street? Or find the courage to throw a drink in our guy's face? Or have one more romp with that Ex we never quite forgot? It's a story of their relationships: with their partners, good and bad, past and present; with themselves, now and then, before and after; but especially with their girlfriends who, for better or for worse, will always be there and will always tell them the truth, even when they don't want to hear it.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    SUMTHIN 2 THINK ABOUT!

    Love the movie really felt what a black women goes through!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted October 1, 2010

    A Classic Film!!!

    "Waiting To Exhale" is by far the best movie that women and men can relate to on relationships, friendships, and our instincts about life. Overall, outstanding material that we as black folks like to see.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Sort by: Showing all of 3 Customer Reviews