BEAUTY SHOP — ** — Queen Latifah, Djimon Hounsou, Alicia Silverstone; rated PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief drugs); Carmike 12 and Ritz 15 Theaters; Century Theatres 16; Cinemark 24 at Jordan Landing; Megaplex 12 at the Gateway; Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons.
The greatest strength in "Beauty Shop" is the outsized personality of its star, Queen Latifah, playing a character who is stronger, smarter and wiser than anybody else on screen.
The weakness here is that she never seems particularly threatened by her problems in this triumph-over-adversity tale. Watching her story unwind is a pleasant ride most of the time. It just never feels remotely real.
In the story spun off from "Barbershop 2," (itself the stepchild of the hit "Barbershop"), widowed hairdresser Gina Norris (Queen Latifah) has left Chicago for Atlanta, where she lives with her daughter, mother-in-law and young sister-in-law while working for an upscale salon.
Fed up with her job, she quits and opens her own place in a black neighborhood. The people and events that come into play as she defeats various obstacles exist in a strictly made-for-the-movies mode.
For instance: When Gina's homemade conditioner draws the attention of a national firm, the suitor is Cover Girl — a company that does not, in fact, sell hair products but does employ Queen Latifah as a spokeswoman.
The movie assembles crowd-pleasing bits and pieces as if putting together a shopping list.
Hairdressers with personalities as vivid as opera singers? Check. Sherri Shepherd is the pregnant one, Golden Brooks is the belligerent one, Alfre Woodard is the one who recites Maya Angelou poetry at every opportunity.
Rebellious youngster needing only a blunt scolding to set her straight? Check. Keshia Knight Pulliam changes overnight from wild child to worker bee.
Hunky man to fall in love with Gina? Check. Djimon Hounsou manages to hang onto his dignity even with his shirt off.
Dimwitted white people? Check. Alicia Silverstone plays a talented, naive hairdresser and Andie MacDowell plays a rich, naive customer.
Evil white people? Check. The funniest is Kevin Bacon in a campy, over-the-top performance as Gina's slimy former employer.
The assembled parts add up to mere trivia. There is fun to be found in "Beauty Shop," none of it more than skin deep.
"Beauty Shop" is rated PG-13 for sexual material, language and brief drug references. Running time: 105 minutes.