Waiting to Exhale

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Waiting to Exhale ★★★ 1995 (R)

Adaptation of Terry McMillan's novel about four African-American women hoping to reach the point in their love lives when they can relax and stop waiting for the right man. After the string of dogs and users they choose, you want to tell them not to hold their breath. The women are supposed to be close friends, but all of their stories are broken up into vignettes. This erodes the ensemble feeling of the movie, but performances are strong all around. Retaining the book's feel of just-between-friends girl talk, it may be a little harsh for those who are, shall we say, estrogen-challenged. A lush R&B soundtrack is the perfect backdrop for the ladies' soulful yearning for real love. 120m/C VHS, DVD . Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, Gregory Hines, Dennis Haysbert, Mykelti Williamson, Michael Beach, Leon, Wendell Pierce, Donald Adeosun Faison, Jeffrey D. Sams, Lamont Johnson; Cameos: Wesley Snipes; D: Forest Whitaker; W: Ronald Bass; C: Toyomichi Kurita; M: Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds. MTV Movie Awards ‘96: Song (“Sittin' Up in My Room”).