THE STORY – Lifelong best friends Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean share an unbreakable bond from decades of weathering life’s storms. Through new shades of heartbreak, the trio are put to test as they face challenging times.
THE CAST – Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Sanaa Lathan, Uzo Aduba, Mekhi Phifer, Julian McMahon, Vondie Curtis-Hall & Russell Hornsby
THE TEAM – Tina Mabry (Director/Writer) & Cee Marcellus (Writer)
THE RUNNING TIME – 124 Minutes
There is nothing more important than the people you include in your life. The people you select to grow up, mature, and experience life with tend to take on a role similar to that of a family. But these friendships are your chosen family, and there is something more powerful in that notion. “The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat” showcases the power of friendship throughout the decades as one’s life ebbs and flows in and out of each other’s lives, showcasing the strong bond of chosen sisterhood.
Based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Edward Kelsey Moore, “The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat” follows three women – Odette, Clarice, and Barabra Jean – over four decades, beginning in the 1960s during their teenage years. They seek comfort at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat throughout their lives while they help each other through the dramas of boys, careers, family, marriages, children, and health – all the highs and lows of life. The main trio’s casting is shared between two sets of actresses as the audience watches them grow. Odette (Kyanna Simone and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor) is a feisty woman who lets everyone know what she’s feeling. Clarice (Abigail Achiri and Uzo Aduba) is a gifted musician who puts her career ambition aside for marriage and motherhood. Barbara Jean (Tati Gabrielle and Sanaa Lathan) is a sweet soul who always tries to see the goodness in the world that is constantly wronging her. Together, the three women lift each other up through the years in this powerful depiction of female friendship.
What makes this film a joy to watch are the two sets of actresses who bring Odette, Clarice, and Barabra Jean to life. Writer-Director Tina Mabry (who co-wrote the screenplay with Gina Prince-Bythewood) moves forward and backward in the film, constantly going between the younger and older versions of the characters, and the transitions are endless. All the actors work well to show their characters as full human beings. Additionally, Ellis-Taylor, Aduba, and Lathan expertly expand on what their younger counterparts laid down in the earlier segments. It is obvious that these characters are growing, reacting, and maneuvering in the world today due to the experiences of their past, and it always feels like the older versions of the women are extensions of their younger selves. It also helps that both trios have great chemistry with each other: the younger one consisting of Simone, Achiri, and Gabrielle has an innocent excitement about them, while Ellis-Taylor, Aduba, and Lathan’s bond is intimate and strong due to the decades. It’s clear that Odette, Clarice, and Barabra Jean love each other, but there are also moments where they can’t stand one other. And then, there are moments where they get under each other’s skin. But that is the difference between a good friend and a lifelong friend; these three are not afraid to tell others their true feelings and hold up mirrors to them. They are unafraid to tell each other the hard truth.
As with most adaptations of novels into feature films, “The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat” experiences pacing issues, which is a common critique. It is simply impossible to adapt every plot point and character development from a 384-page novel into a two-hour film, which makes some plot points overly dramatic and triggering to audience members, especially when they do not majorly advance character development or serve as a callback. The heart and soul of the film center on the three women, so when the film doesn’t deal with all three of them, it is less strong. However, the scenes with the trio all together – particularly those with Ellis-Taylor, Aduba, and Lathan – are magnetic, as they authentically depict three individuals who have four decades of experience with each other. In addition, Gabrielle has powerful moments as Young Barbara Jean, who experiences the most traumatic events of the three characters.
“The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat” is another wonderful addition to films that celebrates female friendship. Women from around the world will relate to Odette, Clarice, and Barbara Jean and smile as they watch each other get older and learn life lessons together. The concept of having two or three close friends to help you grow as a person to be the best version of yourself is a magical one, and “The Supremes at Earl’s-All-You-Can-Eat” depicts just how magical it is to find your tribe.
