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"GOOD HAIR"
(2009) (Documentary) (PG-13)

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QUICK TAKE:
Documentary: Comedian Chris Rock takes a look at the hair care industry for black women and the push for them to have locks more akin to white women than their own ethnicity.
PLOT:
Following his young, African-American daughter asking why she doesn't have "good hair," comedian Chris Rock sets out to examine her question, the views of women of varying ages of the same ethnicity, and the multi-billion dollar hair care industry aimed squarely at them.

Through interviews with ordinary people, industry insiders and famous faces such as Kerry Washington, Eve, Meagan Good, Sarah Jones, Nia Long, Raven-Symoné, Maya Angelou and various men including Ice-T and Al Sharpton, the comedian/actor takes a look at what black women think about their hair, including the quest of many to modify their locks, via the use of relaxer and weaves, to make them appear more akin to that found on white women than their own ethnicity.

All of which leads to the annual and lucrative Bronner Brothers Hair Show in Atlanta where contestants such as Derek J, Jason Griggers, Freddie Jones and Tonya Crumel compete in the Hair Battle Royale Competition.

OUR TAKE: 6 out of 10
"There ain't no words
For the beauty, the splendor, the wonder
Of my...
Hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair, hair
Flow it, show it
Long as God can grow it
My hair" (Lyrics for the musical "Hair" by Gerome Ragni and James Rado)

As a 45-year-old white dude, it's only about now that I'm supposed to be worry about my hair. After all, if it's not the increasing number of grey hairs, it's the receding hairline and/or balding that -- at least according to hair product advertisements, humor based on that or snide comments from the younger set -- should have me concerned.

While I'm not crazy about any of the above, I'm moved on past the point where I really care that much about what's up top, just as long I don't get sunburned there. But it wasn't always that way. Growing up in the 1970s when the hair fashion for teens was to grow it long and straight, my naturally curly locks drove me crazy, resulting in lots of blow drying and product application to try to keep the curls at bay and thus fit in with the rest of the guys.

Granted, that's nothing compared to women whose hair is a much bigger deal, especially as they pursue the latest styles of some famous celebrity (remember the Farrah cut or everyone following Jennifer Aniston's latest cut?) or whims of the fashion and beauty industries. Little did I know, however, the extent to which black women -- or at least some of them -- go to emulate the long, straight, flowing and "white" hair of Caucasians, a point repeatedly brought up in the documentary "Good Hair."

Stemming from narrator/interviewer Chris Rock's preschool aged daughter wondering why she didn't have the titular subject atop her young head, the film explores the cultural, advertising and big business efforts that influence such women to forgo their natural locks in favor of a different ethnic appeal.

Featuring interviews and testimonials from the likes of everyday people, performers such as Meagan Good, Raven-Symoné, Kerry Washington, Nia Long and Ice-T, to unexpected participants including Al Sharpton (who has a funny story about James Brown, the White House and straightening one's hair) and even Maya Angelou (who had her first "relaxing" session at 70), the film explores many strands of the phenomenon that's probably little known outside the business or black community.

Rock, who also co-wrote the film with Lance Crouther, Chuck Sklar and director Jeff Stilson, thankfully makes more of a straightforward documentary than the superstar of his newfound genre, Michael Moore who often gets too cutesy with his subject matter that he simplifies and arranges to make his specific point.

While hair isn't as serious a subject matter as say capitalism, health care, politics or violence, it is a huge business as Rock notes with the introduction of the Bronner Brothers hair styling competition each year in Atlanta that draws massive crowds, or the fact that such products for black women ring up billions and billions of dollars each year.

The comedian-turned-documentary filmmaker then explores that to some greater depth, ranging from the use of relaxer (called "creamy crack" by some for its addictive visual qualities) to weaves (or hair extensions) that are costly, time-consuming to have done, and have a greater geographic footprint than most probably realize.

Along the way, he explores what drives women to such extremes and the effects it has on them (the toxicity, in terms of both health and bank account balances) and the men in their lives. And, as to be expected after it's introduced early on, the film then returns to the big competition and its various competitors (including the current champion who doesn't rehearse his styling performance) for the big finale. Despite the attention, time paid and buildup to all of this, it's the weakest and least interesting part of the film (mainly because it's just about the flamboyant and over-the-top performance rather than the included hair styling).

Being a middle-aged white dude, this subject matter would seem -- on the surface -- to have little in the way of interesting me. Yet, Rock manages to deliver an interesting, insightful and sometimes funny documentary about how and why black women strive to achieve "good" but obviously artificial, costly and time consuming hair. "Good Hair" rates as a 6 out of 10.




Reviewed September 18, 2009 / Posted October 9, 2009


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