‘Girls Trip’ Is The Comedic Relief We Need This Summer | Film Review

Girls Trip is the comedic relief this summer that we all need, and where Rough Night faulted, this film more than makes up for. It takes us on a journey of four women who rekindle their lifelong friendship in New Orleans at Essence’s annual festival. Every bit of filth that is usually locked behind closed doors or saved for intimate conversations over wine, is now displayed on the big screen.

Each character in the Flossy Posse crew – their self-proclaimed group moniker – is a piece of the weight womanhood maintains and battles on a regular basis. Regina Hall is our lead on this lady-cation and she delivers a performance that all women can resonate with on some level. Ryan (Hall) has become a best-selling author for being able to “have it all”- a working woman with love and a strong marriage. Some might argue this is impossible, but Ryan is bound and determined to give women everywhere hope and remind them that they are strong, powerful, and beautiful. Ryan and her husband, Stewart (Mike Colter), have an ultra white girl agent, Liz (Kate Walsh) – who is just trying to fit in with Ryan and make money – who constantly keeps us all shaking our heads with a disappointed smirk and laugh. We all have that one friend who tries just a little too hard.

Ryan’s Flossy Posse members give us all the sweet reminder that your girls are your backbone. Tiffany Haddish completely steals the scene, and I mean every scene, as Dina- the very raunchy, sexual, and vulgar woman that keeps us laughing (which very well might be what it’s actually like to hang out with her). She uses her ‘lady mouth’ in every aspect of the phrase, even with fruit. Ladies, try that grapefruit trick at home and send me a follow-up.

Jada Pinkett Smith’s Lisa is the character we all relate to in our soul as we get older. She’s the ‘old lady’ of the crew, who loves her family and wearing hand-stitched, embroidered granny tops from Guatemala. She helps maintain the composure of the group with her motherly nature, while desperately needing to cut loose.

Lest we not forget the Queen. No, no appearances by Beyonce here. I mean the real Queen. Sasha (Queen Latifah) is the intelligent and bold woman battling the financial struggles of adulthood and trying to make ends meet as a gossip journalist, even though she’s a woman of many educational degrees. Sasha knows her talent is worthy of more, but responsibilities ultimately cement her dreams in limbo.

All of these strong, powerful, and beautiful woman together form what most women are as one individual. With burdens of infidelity, financial hardships, and friendships on discourse, these women must find a way to overcome it all as a part of life. They give us hope that even when it feels as though we don’t have it all, we each maintain the inner strength to make it. We are enough and, as long as we have our friends and ourselves, we have everything we need to get through any troubles life throws our way.

But that’s not all this movie has going for it. In every sexualized lady trip, there must be a hunk or two to get the ladies in the audience cheering about and a vindictive broad to hate. Girls Trip most definitely got the applause of the women in the auditorium as Mike Colter and Larenz Tate show on screen. We are given the stereotypical man- womanizer, manipulative, disloyal and selfish, but also another type of man that really made me happy to see portrayed. The good guy. Very, very rarely will a movie show both types of men on screen and remind us all that there is more than the typical douche out there without going completely overboard. Quite the refresher and gives those good guys something to relate to when they’re laughing along with the ridiculousness of this flick. As for the vindictive broad, well, lets just keep her away from Dina. That woman is wicked fast with a wine bottle.

A well-told story with characters that are each relatable, absolutely hysterical, and an important and powerful final message delivered with subtle grace. You’ll need plenty of tissue to wipe your tears from the hilarity that will ensue.

Grab your ladies and pack your bags. It’s time to take a Girls Trip.