Any woman who has loved a man who has wronged and scarred her emotionally, financially, psychologically and especially physically will appreciate this diverse description of love gone wrong in one way or another. If you are a woman who truly receives and ALWAYS knows she can count on the emotional and psychological support of her ’best friends’, her ’sisters of mercy, truth and even unconditional love, can whole-heartedly relate to Waiting to Exhale.

Each of us beautiful creatures wants to be loved, I mean really loved--not taken for granted, not cheated on, not hit, not expected to continue where ‘mama left off (and they need another mamma’) sometimes! We just simply want to be appreciated, desired with every millimeter of the other person‘s body and certainly held in the highest regard. It is a movie where your grabbing your sides out of laughing so hard, reaching for tissues cause your crying from a deep well, and your loving from a secure place knowing within yourself is a great woman.

A great book can be made into a great movie when directed by a seasoned actor who has played in decent-to-great movies. Waiting to Exhale is one of those books, written by Terry McMillan who agreed her screenplay if reviewed by the best person, would be given a good run for its money. It is based on but nothing like the book and screenplay Forest Whittaker of Jason’s Lyric fame, works magic into. He is the skill behind Waiting to Exhale, a movie involving four black women who through thick and thin, friends for life, overcome the relationship blues.

The plot revolves around the lives of a married, separated, and two non-married but willing to try the dating game over and over or just stay away all together, kind of women. Each one has her own beauty, grace and fiery passion; not to mention a vengeful streak when stroked the wrong way. It can be classified as the ‘chic-flick’ for 1995 but I know a few men who really admired and resented how the males who wronged women were represented in this film. Certainly not ALL men cheat, stray to bisexuality or abuse their women, but those who do (and you know who you are) could probably learn a lot if not feel some empathy for these four great women who show their true colors in the face of adversity.

And you call us simple ? Not okay but read on . . .

The first great woman viewers are introduced to is Bernadine ‘Bernie‘ Harris. She is played by the outstanding Angela Basset (of Nothing But The Truth, What’s Love Got To Do With It, & How Stella Got Her Groove Back fame) who does a superb job as mother of two children, possessing a degree in business who helps make her husband John Harris Sr. played by Michael Beach (of Last American Casualty, Soul Food & of course one of my sci-fi faves The Abyss fame) a great corporate success while putting her dreams of a catering business on hold.

After eleven years of sacrificing her own needs, goals and desires, she is regretfully informed that her husband is leaving her for his equally beautiful white secretary. Her story is typical in that after the ten year marriage mark, boredom or intolerance sets in and something better, or so they believe, the ‘grass is greener on the other side of the fence’ syndrome takes over and the one left standing in the doorway, is alone.

Not flaunting her college intellect-gained knowledge of the world and men, she surely shows perseverance when threatened. She is left in the wake of divorce, strongly sensing she must succumb to solitude but desperately seeks acceptance within herself to fend for herself, take care of her children who are ‘not for sale !’and rise from what could be disastrous to what is graciously blessed.

I am pretty certain how she deals with the information in the first hours of John’s absence and what she does in the morning when she awakens to her new reality, should be thoroughly enjoyed by many women, and not so by any man if he loves his material things more. This movie deals with all the emotions and how she demonstrates revenge is sweeter than Mississippi burning !

As she matures through the wake of divorce proceedings and finally stands in her own shoes with no shadow in front of her, we do see Bernadine grow and feel important as a woman again. She meets someone at the hotel bar and with neither sleaziness nor a cheesy ‘pick-up’ kind of scene, her mutual need for ‘someone to listen to’ is heart-warming and real ! When she looks up to see James Wheeler played Wesley Snipes (of Hard Luck, Blade & one of my faves of his Jungle Fever) wanting to know if “is this seat taken?”, you think a smooth operator is about to land in her lap. Well there is true class demonstrated here on Mr James Wheeler’s part and you men will truly appreciate it, I hope. The being real and holding nothing back with a switch that makes Bernadine really understand the colorlessness of love is well worth curling up together with the one you do really love and who loves you back . . .

The second great woman viewers are shown is Gloria ‘Glo‘ Matthews. She is played by Loretta Devine (of I am Sam, The Preacher’s Wife & Stanley and Iris fame among a variety of other television and movie roles) who portrays a strong usually-single mother except when visits from Tarik Matthews, played by Donald Faison’s (of King’s Ransom, Trippin & one of my fave hip hop movies Juice fame as well as a very popular television series some of us love to watch and other movie roles) estranged and coming out of the closet father who challenges the family bond.

Being the mother of a teenage son and owning her own beauty salon, ‘Glo’ shines in Waiting to Exhale as the backbone of a family that has somehow lost theirs from the trust perspective and is certainly not bashing the change in sexual preference theme. Her idea of family and security of an exclusive man that she can have intimate understanding relationship with has been blown apart by a fascination with more than just a woman’s touch or a hefty bank-book.

Her situation is not uncommon but genuinely heart-breaking as she must face the news that her son’s father is no longer ’living a lie’, “pretending to be something I am not, Gloria. I have been bisexual for years and now I am just gay“. Her reaction is common as she struggles very deeply and emotionally with this information because she believes it has mostly to do with her weight issues, cigarette smoking, trying to make her son become a decent respectable man, all the while attracting the wrong man with the proper signals only to be snuffed sexually.

A wonderful relationship with her best friends sees her through some of these difficult awakenings about herself. I saw this as a very helpful way women of any nationality could make better sense of once being in a heterosexual relationship and sometimes loved to a homosexual status and being rejected. It is nothing you did baby girl, it is just the way things happen and how ‘Glo’ handles it is brilliant.

Our third great woman viewers are shown is Robin Stokes played by Lela Rochon the gorgeous Haitian/American woman (of Labor Pains, The Meteor Man & Boomerang fame plus a plethora of television and movie roles) who would rather rustle under the sheets with the bad boy as often as she can because simply, she can. However, her story-line is neither heart-breaking nor devastating nor even moral-shattering unless you look at wanting single-motherhood as a curse instead of a blessing.

Her situation is exclusively the common plight of many women, the conquering intimate sexual trysts we women of color or not, engage in and what comes in the aftermath. It involves three men and three different surrenders. Her first sex tryst which is neither distastefully nor derogatorily written, is quick but gentle and romantic its just not something that would make you be “Waiting to Exhale” as they say. The character is Michael Davenport played by Wendell Pierce (of Bulworth, Hackers and of course Malcolm X fame as well as a plethora of television and other movie roles) and as the cuddly loveable ‘bear’ kind of guy, he is jilted instead of jilting.

The next tryst of Robin’s toys is uhhm well Troy played by Mykelti Williamson (of The Final Destination, Species II & ConAir fame among other numerous television spots and movie roles) who is the really confused, “leather in the summer wearing fool” (I loved it when she yells that !) who assumes that simplicity of reciprocity is too much too ask and the reason white women are more sympathetic to black men is because we tolerate that behavior. HAH, I think not and you men who do this feeling this way, know what I am talking about !

Every woman DESERVES truthful positive communication and being asked something for reaction rather than told something for removal does not only represent ‘black man‘ but all men who are simply thinking of only themselves !

Finally we meet Russell, Robin’s third and most consistent bad boy before during and after Michael and Troy, addiction. Yes, that is all he is simply is, an addiction but vice-versa ya know. Russell played by Leon I (of Get Rich or Die Tryin’, Bats & of course Colors with Sean Penn) has an addiction to playing women, using illicit substances occasionally, already a father to a few unseen but mentioned children, not too demonstrative of a productive kind of fellow but some hoods referring to locations not the slang term used by and for some people, cannot produce all potential to come fourth and shine. But Robin is an all out American girl turned woman who adopts an outlook of give me what I want and I am all yours or move the hell on I don’t need you.

The fourth and final great woman viewers are introduced to is Savannah ‘Vannah‘ Jackson who is played by Whitney Elizabeth Houston (of Welcome Home, Roscoe Jones, The Preacher‘s Wife & The Bodyguard among plethora of other television and movie roles) as a news anchorwoman with wonderful potential to be “I’m Every Woman” (off The Bodyguard soundtrack). This character takes care of the body and spirit, religiously attends church with her best friends and soulfully enjoys single-hood. But when her body really needs it, well you know. Savannah really just wants her body taken care of from a sexual standpoint without having to say ‘I do’. Although she does not ‘have to be in love when her body ‘needs this’, she does have morals and personal values that stand out.

Her situation is not really a situation at all in the beginning of the movie; it only becomes evident as being one when the ‘love of her life’ comes back to claim her while still claiming another, for life. The ‘love of her life’ is played by the Allstate Insurance company spokesperson Dennis Haybert (of Jar Head, The Thirteenth Floor & Navy Seals) who strolls right back down memory lane in order to sweep Savannah off her feet, nearly twelve years later. He is brilliant in deducing his responsibilities and dividing his time between offspring and lust. Although not disgusting about it, he still resembles the typical player and that is just not acceptable and gentle gets served. The character of ‘Savannah’ is neither stupid nor desperate and plays her cards so appropriately especially at the end, one cannot just stand up and applaud. I am hoping you ladies will fall in love with this personna of the ‘great woman’ she portrayed, as I did.

So do I recommend this one ? Absolutely ! Is it for everyone? No. Should any youngsters watch it? I don’t think at the formative ages of 5-15 years of age a youngster should be exposed to this; however a mother and daughter or father and son of about 16 and up could probably benefit no mater what culture you are raised in.

Why ? Because the message I hear loud and clear is this: It does not matter which culture you were born into and how well you were raised to hold monogamy precious, men sometimes can be ‘doggggs’ and women can be very difficult if not fully understood ! (Now this is not to point any fingers at those cheaters or haters but to open the eyes to you guys out there who take your ‘great women’ for granted.) The movie might seem like it is strictly aimed for women, but c’mon guys, honestly from the deeper portion of the soul and those mind games that psychological motivations inherent in the male gendered-species play, couldn’t you see yourself as the gentlemen who prefers to be better than the guys portrayed in the movie ?

Well what are you waiting for go buy "Waiting to Exhale" on DVD or VHS (yes, they still make these and actually that is what I watched to write this review) and curl up with your one and only and watch together what should never happen to either gender if you just love the great woman or man you have exclusively for better or worse, married or just living together !

Run Time: 127 minutes
English
Color
Dolby Digital
DVD Format
Awards--8 wins and 8 nominations
Release Date: December 22nd, 1995 USA
Featured in Century of Black Cinema 2003

Cast of Characters:

Whitney Elizabeth Houston as Savannah ‘Vannah’ Jackson

Angela Evelyn Bassett as Bernadine ‘Bernie’ Harris

Loretta Devine as Gloria ‘Glo’ Matthews

Lela Rochon Staples as Robin Stokes

Wesley Snipes as James Wheeler is unfortunately un-credited
at IMDb.

The late great Gregory Oliver Hines as very sexy Marvin King

Dennis Dexter Haysbert as Kenneth Dawkins

Mykelti Williamson a.k.a Michael Williamson as Troy

Michael Anthony Beach as John Harris, Sr.

Leon I as Russell

Wendell Pierce as Michael Davenport

Donald Adeosun Faison as Tarik Matthews

Jeffrey D. Sams as Lionel

Jazzmine Raycole Dillingham as Onika Harris

Brandon Hammond as John Harris, Jr.

*(This is not the entire cast listed as Epinions would have possibly declined this review for being too long or avid readers being bored, possibly, to tears or rages of frustration)

**The tagline from IMDb on Waiting to Exhale is: “Friends are the people who let you be yourself... and never let you forget it” which in this film is so genuinely presented, I had to review it and tell people how much I liked it. **P.S. The reviewer is a white women who appreciates all nationalities of men and women who also sees love as ‘colorless’ . . .Thank you for reading.

Enjoy !

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Good Date Movie
Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age