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Movies / On DVD / Waiting to Exhale
Waiting to Exhale

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Waiting to Exhale (1995)

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Reviews Counted:24

Fresh:13

Rotten:11

Average Rating:5.6/10

Runtime: 2 hrs 15 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: The adaptation of Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, about four middle-class, African-American friends, and their continuing efforts to find Mr. Right. The story begins with Bernadine, whose... The adaptation of Terry McMillan's best-selling novel, about four middle-class, African-American friends, and their continuing efforts to find Mr. Right. The story begins with Bernadine, whose husband John calmly announces that he's leaving her -- for a white woman. Furthermore, the wealthy John has been manipulating his finances, and leaves Bernadine virtually broke. But Bernie gets her revenge, in a rather "fiery" fashion. Then there's Savannah, who re-ignites a relationship with her ex-boyfriend, who's married with children. Meanwhile, dim-bulb Robin dates hordes of Mr. Wrongs before going back to Russell, who's also married. Will either come to her senses? Finally, portly, single mom Gloria gave up on finding a man years ago, concentrating instead on raising her son. Ironically, it is she who finds love, with her new neighbor. For these women, finding a man is secondary to one thing: their close love and affection for one another. And it is this bond that helps them get through the pain and heartache of their lives. [More]

Starring: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine

Starring: Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Mykelti Williamson, Wesley Snipes, Dennis Haysbert

Director: Forest Whitaker

Director: Forest Whitaker

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Jun 1, 1999

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for Waiting to Exhale

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1 - 20 (sorted by critic A-Z)
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With one possible exception, none of its women is at all likable.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
01/01/00
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

With the exception of Bernadine, I never felt anything for the women populating this film, as they failed to capture my interest or sympathy.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Offers a winning portrait of sassy black sister solidarity.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
08/29/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice

Whitney Houston's alleged dramatic acting and dull, uninvolving storyline weighs down the virtues of the film.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
12/21/04
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

An escapist fantasy that women in the audience can enjoy by musing, 'I wish I had her problems' - and her car, house, wardrobe, figure and men, even wrong men.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

You want the movie to stomp and rejoice and cry like a fool; instead it meanders and lollygags, occasionally flaring up, then sputtering again.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Edward Guthmann
Edward Guthmann
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

When Robin asks, 'Don't we hear this on Sally and Oprah every day?' you may be inclined to agree.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

There are some humorous observations, irrefutable truths and good performances that make this movie worthwhile to those in a man-bashing mindframe.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Christine James
Christine James
Boxoffice Magazine

It is a two-hour music video, Houston is pretty but dull, and the dynamo Bassett has been better elsewhere.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
01/01/00
Bruce Kirkland
Bruce Kirkland
Jam! Movies

Never escapes the queasy aura of Melrose Place: just another story about beautiful people with small problems.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment Comment
04/12/02
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The huge crossover success of the stylish but shallow melodrama, based on McMillan's best-seller, doesn't make it better or more substantial but it shows how ignored the black middle class, particularly women, hade been in Hollywood pictures.

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
09/19/06
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Is there a woman alive who hasn't demanded an explanation from the Almighty about the losers that she keeps getting?

Full Review Source: Film Scouts | comment Comment
04/17/02
Leslie Rigoulot
Leslie Rigoulot
Film Scouts

For all the pleasure there is in seeing effective, great-looking black women grappling with major life issues on screen, Waiting to Exhale is an uneven piece.

Full Review Source: Detroit News | comment Comment
01/01/00
Susan Stark
Susan Stark
Detroit News
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This sister-celebratory adaptation of Terry McMillan's best-selling book is frequently delightful.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Desson Thomson
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A pleasant if undemanding piece of work that is diverting to sit through though it won't stand up to any kind of rigorous examination.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
02/13/01
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The male-bashing taken to an extreme in Waiting to Exhale is starting to seem a little like crack for the female psyche, exhilarating in the short term but ultimately crippling and dangerous.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Joan Walsh
Joan Walsh
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Four main female characters trudging through a movie's worth of similar repeated blunders adds up to one scary truckload of drama.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/01/00
Barry Walters
Barry Walters
San Francisco Examiner

Overall, the film never quite hints at answers or even much comprehension of the problems, but it should fit the bill for those looking for empathic communion, or those simply wanting to bash men.

Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Madeleine Williams
Madeleine Williams
Cinematter

Whitaker clumsily mishandles what should be a 'you go, girl!' tour de force.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Susan Wloszczyna
Susan Wloszczyna
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jack Garner
Jack Garner
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
 
 
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