On this day in comedy on March 30, 2005 Beauty Shop was released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
This spin-off of Ice Cube’s Barbershop franchise stars Queen Latifah as Gina, a character introduced in 2004’s Barbershop 2. The plot in this installment has Latifah moving from Chicago to Atlanta to give her daughter a better life and so she can attend a private music school. Latifah is a great hair stylist, but is driven away from her home salon by her jealous boss (Kevin Bacon) so she opens her own shop. It’s a shop of misfits: old ornery customers, new dumb and lazy stylists and a rapper wannabe (Lil JJ) who’s always filming himself.
Eventually things start to look up. Latifah’s old clients return to her, her old boss’ clients come her way and the new people start to trust her and give up some business. Then the jealous ex-boss sends in a guy to destroy Latifah’s business. It almost works at a crucial time, but thanks to Latifah’s loyal employees it all turns out right. That also means Kevin Bacon gets paid a visit by some folks from the shop who give him a proper shaving.
Beauty Shop was directed by Billie Woodruff and co-stars Alfre Woodard, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Della Reese, Paige Hurd, Octavia Spencer, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Golden Brooks and Djimon Hounsou. It also features the comedy talents of Adele Givens, Sherri Shepherd, Laura Hayes and Sheryl Underwood with cameos by LisaRaye McCoy, Birdman, Kimora Lee Simmons and Wilmer Valderrama.
The film received numerous award nominations for directing, acting (Latifah and Bacon) and writing (Kate Lanier, Audrey Wells and Norman Vance, Jr.). On a $25 million budget, Beauty Shop earned $37,245,453 at the box office.
By Darryl “D’Militant” Littleton
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