BEAUTY SHOP
A lively comedy best saved for a more controlled setting.
Should You Watch It?
BEAUTY SHOP has energy. Queen Latifah plays Gina boldly, and much of the comedy comes from the lively interaction among the salon’s hairdressers and customers. The story also presents business ownership positively and rebukes abuses of governmental authority.
But the movie is held back by a very lightweight script. Its content includes about 50 mostly light obscenities, sexual innuendo mostly involving female sexual pleasure, and comic references to the apparent sexual orientation of a male hairdresser. There is also brief dirty dancing, French kissing, alcohol use, and some cleavage.
For teenagers and adults who want a broad comedy, the film has some spirited entertainment. For a family movie night, its modest merits are better enjoyed at home, where parents can guide the experience. WAIT FOR HOME.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESGina, a talented hairdresser, leaves her condescending German boss in Atlanta to open her own beauty shop. As she struggles to make ends meet, one customer offers to help sell Gina’s special conditioning formula to a major company. Trouble with a state inspector, a rival salon owner, and conflict among Gina’s employees put the new business under pressure.
Is It Any Good?
Two stars means this is a watchable but lightweight comedy, not a deeply satisfying one. Queen Latifah plays Gina to the hilt, bringing boldness and brassy energy to the role.
The strongest material comes from the interaction among Gina’s motley crew of hairdressers and their customers. The script, however, is very light, and the comedy relies heavily on obscenities, sexual innuendo, and comic references about sexual orientation. The movie has lively performers but not enough substance to rise above its thin premise.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview through very strong pro-capitalist messages. Gina’s effort to build her own business is treated positively, while the abuse of governmental authority is rebuked. The movie also includes a brief reference to going to church, some pagan content, feminist implications that are not particularly radical or overtly offensive, and mildly politically correct racial-identity attitudes.
The homosexual references are played for laughs rather than condemnation. The film also includes an effeminate male hairdresser and a reference to Black Muslim identity. Its business message aligns with the value of diligent work, but its treatment of sexuality and identity does not offer a biblical framework.
The movie’s central hope is that perseverance and wise choices can help restore what is in danger of being lost. Scripture likewise commends diligence: “The hand of the diligent makes rich” (Proverbs 10:4).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview with very strong pro-capitalist messages that also rebuke abuse of governmental authority, brief talk about going to church and some pagan content, including comical subplot with homosexual references about one male hairdresser’s possible sexual orientation and another hairdresser is effeminate, and some mildly politically correct, racial identity attitudes, plus some feminist implications (nothing particularly radical or overtly offensive, however), as well as one oblique reference to Black Muslim; at least 48 mostly light obscenities (two or three “s” words), seven light exclamatory profanities, someone says, “Lord Jesus, have mercy,” and racial slur rebuked, as is the saying of “Ho” for whore; brief comic violence includes shop owner kicks boy out of beauty shop for being disrespectful to women and men grab comical villain with intent to cut his long hair; no sex scenes but some brief dirty dancing, French kissing, some oblique sexual innuendoes (mostly about women getting sexual pleasure in “Hot-lanta” in Georgia), and references to being homosexual; no nudity, but some female cleavage and talk about woman’s plastic surgery to increase her breasts; alcohol use; no smoking; and, bribery rebuked.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Gina faces pressure while trying to keep her business going. What does faithful diligence look like when circumstances are unfair?
Proverbs 10:4 · Colossians 3:23The film rebukes abuse of governmental authority. What does Scripture ask of people who hold authority, and how should others respond to injustice?
Micah 6:8 · Romans 13:1–4The salon’s humor includes references to sexual orientation and identity. How can we speak about people with both truth and dignity?
Genesis 1:27 · Ephesians 4:15Gina refuses to fire a hairdresser after an argument. When should loyalty, justice, and wise leadership shape a difficult decision?
Proverbs 11:3 · James 1:5The Final Word
BEAUTY SHOP brings lively performances and workplace energy, but its script is lightweight and its frequent obscenities and sexual humor make it a poor fit for younger viewers. Save it for a controlled setting: WAIT FOR HOME. For other options, see.
