THE STORY – Eight hundred and fifty-five join the war effort to address a three-year mail backlog. Despite discrimination and war-torn conditions, they sort over seventeen million pieces of mail ahead of schedule.
THE CAST – Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Dean Norris, Sam Waterston & Oprah Winfrey
THE TEAM – Tyler Perry (Director/Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 127 Minutes
Chances are you’ve seen World War II covered in a multitude of ways in films and know a thing or two about the men who spearheaded big battles or the masterminds behind weapons of mass destruction. But, likely, you’ve never heard of the historic Six Triple Eight – the U.S. Army’s 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – which was the largest group of Black servicewomen to serve overseas during World War II. Their mission was to sort through millions of pieces of mail and get them to soldiers and their families, both desperate for any sort of communication. These women and their inspiring tales are finally getting the Hollywood treatment in Tyler Perry’s sentimental, historical drama “The Six Triple Eight.” Though rough around the edges in many ways, like with its awkward dialogue and some overly cheesy moments, once this film gets to the heart of this troop’s mission, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’ll enlighten and inspire viewers.
The film’s first act is its weakest as too many time jumps take place, and storylines seem disjointed. We’re thrown into the middle of a war in San Pietro, Italy, in December 1943, where American troops are being ambushed from all sides, and a plane crashes in the middle of a battlefield. A bloodied letter is taken from a downed pilot and placed in a mailbag, which eventually comes back into play. Then we go back to 1942 Pennsylvania, where sweethearts Abram (Gregg Sulkin) and Lena (Ebony Obsidian) prepare to say their farewells as he heads off to war. Everyone has an opinion on their relationship and why they shouldn’t be together (mainly because she’s Black and he’s white), but they’re a cute enough pair that you hope makes it. However, she never hears from him when he’s shipped off overseas, even though he promised to write. When she eventually learns that he died in battle, Lena decides that, with few prospects available to her, she’ll join the Women’s Army Corp.
As the film moves into its military setting, it takes on the tropes of so many other war movies. We see the challenging training scenes, the hardass Sargent – here it’s Major Charity Adams (Kerry Washington, whose stern voice and poise commands every scene) – and Lena making friends with the other women in her unit, like firecracker Southern belle Johnnie Mae (Shanice Shantay, a standout among the cast). In the midst of all this, there is another side plot that initially doesn’t seem relevant, involving First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt (Susan Sarandon, whose prosthetic teeth look like they’re going to fall out of her mouth). Somehow, only thanks to a random woman standing in front of the White House, she just now learns that families across the United States have not heard from their sons stationed in Europe. Later, a meeting ensues with President Roosevelt (Sam Waterston), Eleanor, civil and women’s rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune, and General Halt (a genuinely vile Dean Norris in this role), and leads to assigning this mail backlog to Adams’ unit.
Once in Europe, “The Six Triple Eight” finally gets into its groove. The look of disappointment on Adams’ face when she learns of her unit’s mission is felt so deeply – the way women, and especially women of color, are overlooked and undervalued just because of their gender and race is an unfortunate reality so many know. Not to mention the horrible conditions they have to do this task – rats are seen crawling everywhere, there’s no heat inside their building, and they barely have enough information to find where soldiers are stationed around Europe. But it becomes so satisfying to see Adams and the women around her persevere through all of this, let alone the constant racism and misogyny they have to face. It’s here, too, where Washington and Obsidian really get to shine with their characters. Washington does a fine job as the stern commanding officer, but when she’s standing up for Black women and fighting back tears with each piercing word against Norris’ General Halt, she shows off her acting talents. Obsidian also lets go of all the emotions Lena is holding inside following the loss of Abram, and she shows just how important getting a simple letter can be during desperate times. You don’t necessarily feel any serious stakes while watching this film, but these two actresses certainly keep you invested.
This film gets rightfully sentimental in many ways but does tend to overdo the cheesiness. Scenes of people bursting into applause or cheering in the middle of army barracks are a little much, and some bits of dialogue sound like they’ve come straight from AI. Ultimately, “The Six Triple Eight” is one of those crowd-pleasing films about a special group who defied the odds that almost anyone can enjoy. Despite its flaws, its emotional performances from Washington and Obsidian will keep viewers locked in until its heartwarming ending.
