The Salon

"Barbershop 3"?
**1/2

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that "The Salon" is really just "Barbershop" on estrogen. Like that earlier prototype, "The Salon" - which takes place in a Baltimore beauty parlor run by the beautiful Vivica A. Fox - is essentially a freeform series of conversations held together by the flimsiest of plot devices (in this one, an unfeeling bureaucracy wants to tear down the shop to make way for a parking lot). Unfortunately, "The Salon" is a pretty wan imitation of the original, lacking the stinging wit and biting social commentary that made "Barbershop" such a crossover success in its time.

While there is a certain liveliness to the verbal jousting and a notable energy in most of the performances, the comic banter often comes across as catty and mean-spirited rather than funny and insightful. The screenplay by Mark Brown (adapted from the stage play by Shelley Garrett) works overtime trying to be clever and smart about race relations,...

Overall, Historically Beautiful!
The Salon was very great. Kym Whitley and Vivica A. Fox did a great performance. However, I felt that it could of been maybe a sequel, especially discussing what happenss with Monica Calhoun's character ordeal with her husband. But overall, HISTORICALLY BEAUTIFUL.

A little, ghetto gem...
The cast of characters in this indie, ghetto, wannabe Barbershop/Beauty Shop is ridiculous and I love it. I think it's actually ten times better than Beauty Shop. No offense Q.L.

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