Beauty Shop

If you are after a comedy that actually makes you laugh out loud, Beauty Shop is available in Australia on Stan and MGM Amazon Channel, and in the US on fuboTV and MGM+ Amazon Channel right now. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. 560 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Queen Latifah is the obvious draw, but the whole ensemble earns its laughs. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Stan.

There is a reason Beauty Shop keeps coming up in conversation. The jokes in Beauty Shop land because the characters underneath them are worth caring about. Far from Chicago, hairdresser Gina Norris has relocated to Atlanta with her daughter and has quickly established herself as a rare talent in her profession. But after repeatedly butting heads with her shady, over-the-top boss, Jorge, Norris sets out to create her own salon -- even snagging a few of Jorge's employees and clients. Now, Jorge will do anything to shut her down. Queen Latifah and Alicia Silverstone lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2005. What keeps Beauty Shop from feeling disposable is a cast that clearly understands the material better than the format usually demands. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Comedy fans looking for a reliably funny watch will find it in Beauty Shop. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Queen Latifah's comic timing carries it through its weaker moments. The kind of comedy you recommend to someone who claims they do not watch much.