#REVIEW: THE SUPREMES AT EARL’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT

By Mr. Will Wong

Best friends Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor), Clarice (Uzo Aduba) and Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan) have been on an ‘eras tour’ of their own in a friendship spanning four decades. Growing-up in the ’60s, they whether their transition to adulthood, which already is tough but deal with some difficult challenges above that like prejudice and domestic violence. One cornerstone of their friendship continues to be Earl’s All You Can Eat, a restaurant that’s seen lows and highs in their lasting friendship. They reunite present day and once again find themselves navigating some of the most difficult conversations they’ve had in their lives yet. Clarice confronts her husband’s infidelity, Barbara Jean is still living in the shadows of passionate love affair from her youth, while Odette is battling a terminal illness.

Based on Edward Kelsey Moore’s New York Times bestseller, and directed by Tina Mabry, the Film deals with some heavy subject matter, brought to life by a trio of brilliant Actors. The Drama’s biggest issue is that it covers a lot of ground exploring stories past and present of our three heroines in the span of 124 minutes, feeling a bit bloated.

While the story is told with warmth, thanks to great chemstry between the talented three leads, this adaptation doesn’t quite capture the moments of lightness and joy that friendship brings their characters, to balance out the heaviness. This would’ve really taken the audience through an emotional journey to make it all rewarding.

While we don’t think Mabry‘s film possesses quite the same charm and resonance its source material has, this doesn’t mean that it can’t be enjoyed by the Book’s legions of fans.

THE SUPREMES AT EARL’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT arrives August 23, 2024 on Disney+ Canada.