Audiences were introduced to the brash Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) in 2004's "Barbershop 2: Back in Business," but Gina takes her show on the road and moves from Chicago to Atlanta in "Beauty Shop."
The reason for the move is Gina's gifted daughter Vanessa (Paige Hurd) will be attending a prestigious musical school in Atlanta. Gina has taken up a styling chair job at Jorge Christophe's (Kevin Bacon) shop, but still has dreams of owning one of her own.
Jorge and Gina don't see eye to eye, especially when he takes credit for her hard work and he doesn't want her to use her own "special brew" on customers.
Gina finally has enough, quits and opens her own store. Not only does Gina take some of her best customers with her, but she even takes Lynn, another stylist (Alicia Silverstone).
Business is booming, but Gina finds herself being hassled by a determined city inspector who will ticket her at the drop of a lock of hair.
Much like the "Barbershop" movies, "Beauty Shop" centers around the relationships between Gina's family and friends, like being caught up in the family troubles between her own mother-figure and mother-in-law Paulette (Laura Hayes) and her rebellious daughter Darnelle (former Cosby kid Keshia Knight Pulliam).
Gina also has to deal with her problems as a single mother and as a woman — she's interested in Joe (Djimon Hounsou), the electrician who lives upstairs.
Gina's shop is the place for girl gossip, where you meet interesting characters like the rich snob Joanna Marcus (Mena Suvari) and the whiny, naïve Terri Green (Andie MacDowell).
"Beauty Shop" is a funny movie, but lacks when it comes to a real story. "Barbershop" was a movie that gave its lead character a real foundation, while "Beauty Shop" jumps over certain aspects that could be more helpful, like why Gina is so set on opening her own shop and what the deal is with the photo on her wall of an older woman.
The casting for the movie is superb. Latifah is great as the full-of-attitude hairstylist, but she also possesses the skills for being the understanding mother and loveable girlfriend. Silverstone is surprisingly good as Lynn, the white girl with a strong southern accent who doesn't feel like she fits in.
Now there are more ways to play Six Degrees of Separation from Bacon. Bacon is one of the best parts of the movie as the flamboyant, also rude and childish, Jorge Christophe.
Casting directors were able to get the legendary Della Reese and Kimora "Mrs. Simmons" Lee to make appearances.
The one downside of casting is that of Djimon Hounsou as Joe. He makes a wonderful love interest and is great to look at, but the Oscar nominated actor seems out of place.
The use of the radio as a conversation starter and a central part of the plot is interesting. The audience is kept in the dark as to who the mouth and microphone belong though until the end of the movie, which provides for a tiny plot-twist.
"Beauty Shop" is the girly version of "Barbershop" which makes it entertaining, but there are still areas that could have been smoothed out before release.
Grade B
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on March 31 2005.