Based on Terry McMillan's novel, this film follows four very different African-American women and their relationships with men.Based on Terry McMillan's novel, this film follows four very different African-American women and their relationships with men.Based on Terry McMillan's novel, this film follows four very different African-American women and their relationships with men.
- Awards
- 9 wins & 10 nominations
Donald Faison
- Tarik
- (as Donald Adeosun Faison)
Theo Mizuhara
- On Air D.J.
- (as Theo)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDuring the car burning scene, Angela Bassett's monologue was completely improvised.
- GoofsGloria's right earring appears and disappears during her conversation with her ex-husband about their son.
- Quotes
Bernadine Harris: I give you 11 fucking years of my life and you're telling me you're leaving me for a white woman?
John Harris, Sr.: Would it help if she was black?
Bernadine Harris: No. It would help if you were black.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Whitney Houston: Exhale (Shoop Shoop) (1995)
- SoundtracksExhale (Shoop Shoop)
Performed by Whitney Houston
Written by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface)
Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface) for Ecaf Productions
Whitney Houston appears courtesy of Arista Records, Inc.
Featured review
Frustrating...
That's the word I'd use to describe the film, an adaptation of Terry McMillan's 1992 best-seller. It's not great, it's not bad, but it's frustrating to watch, and the fact that I'm of the male persuasion undoubtedly had something to do with it.
Now, let me be the first to say that I did enjoy seeing a group of strong black women portrayed onscreen. To say that Hollywood has been exceedingly lax in this regard is an understatement. But it would've been nice if their collective talents hadn't been squandered on this disgustingly anti-male tirade. Especially Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine, who otherwise shine in everything their names are attached to. Good, solid movies about sisterhood are probably needed now more than ever, but not at the cost of shortchanging the good, upright, decent brothers out there, whom this movie largely forgets about (with some notable exceptions -- Gregory Hines, for example.)
And the frustration doesn't end there. Both Savannah and Robin manage to find themselves involved with the most shady characters (a married man and a dope fiend, respectively), yet they complain about the lack of good men out there. I suppose it would be silly to question just where they've been looking, even though it might hold the answer. The sad thing is that there are fellas out there who have little to no regard for women ("the scum of the f__king earth", to quote Savannah), and women who fall for fellas like that for the most silly, shallow reasons.
If it wasn't for Bassett, Devine, and Babyface's score, this movie would barely be watchable. As it is, it's a moderately entertaining diversion, albeit a frustrating one.
Now, let me be the first to say that I did enjoy seeing a group of strong black women portrayed onscreen. To say that Hollywood has been exceedingly lax in this regard is an understatement. But it would've been nice if their collective talents hadn't been squandered on this disgustingly anti-male tirade. Especially Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine, who otherwise shine in everything their names are attached to. Good, solid movies about sisterhood are probably needed now more than ever, but not at the cost of shortchanging the good, upright, decent brothers out there, whom this movie largely forgets about (with some notable exceptions -- Gregory Hines, for example.)
And the frustration doesn't end there. Both Savannah and Robin manage to find themselves involved with the most shady characters (a married man and a dope fiend, respectively), yet they complain about the lack of good men out there. I suppose it would be silly to question just where they've been looking, even though it might hold the answer. The sad thing is that there are fellas out there who have little to no regard for women ("the scum of the f__king earth", to quote Savannah), and women who fall for fellas like that for the most silly, shallow reasons.
If it wasn't for Bassett, Devine, and Babyface's score, this movie would barely be watchable. As it is, it's a moderately entertaining diversion, albeit a frustrating one.
helpful•118
- Rid.X
- Feb 11, 2000
- How long is Waiting to Exhale?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $16,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $67,052,156
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $14,126,927
- Dec 25, 1995
- Gross worldwide
- $81,452,156
- Runtime2 hours 4 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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