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All Flixster 3.5 Stars (12253) Want To See 2725 Not Interested 29374
Female 4.0 Stars (7426) Want To See 1652 Not Interested 17802
Male 3.0 Stars (4827) Want To See 1073 Not Interested 11572

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Plot: Even when it misses a dramatic opportunity in favor of generic action, Set It Off benefits from a sharp understanding of its well-drawn central characters. They're a quartet of young African Am...( read more read more... )erican women in Los Angeles (Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, Kimberly Elise), all struggling against a system that seems designed to prevent them from realizing their dreams. The movie establishes their plight with credible attention to emotional detail, making their decision to rob banks believable enough to give the ensuing plot its inevitably tragic momentum. Cowritten by the screenwriter of What's Love Got to Do With It?, the film conveys genuine compassion for its characters, and the ensemble cast is uniformly strong--especially Queen Latifah as a brash lesbian whose fate is as certain as her forceful attitude.

Set It Off expresses a real sense that these women have been close friends for years, and that gives the film additional impact, even when their transition to crime and violence feels somewhat forced and superficial. A romantic subplot involving Pinkett and a social-climbing banker (Blair Underwood) is too contrived to be convincing, and director F. Gary Gray (Friday) tries too hard to combine hard-hitting action with social relevance (a weakness shared by Gray's following film, The Negotiator). Still, Set It Off effectively avoids passing judgment; its emotional complexity transcends simple notions of right and wrong, injecting vitality--and a kind of renegade integrity--into the traditions of a familiar plot. --Jeff Shannon

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Recent Reviews


  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 16, 2008
    This movie is about 4 women who are tired of thier lives and decided to rob a bank. It's pretty good, but sad.
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 6, 2008
    this moive was so good. i was on the verge of crying so hart felt. what the banks had to go through. the most saddest part was when three of em died. and the brother. but at the end, the ending was kinda weird was she on her way back to america or was she goin sumwhere else; that didnt sit well wit me.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 19, 2008
    great movie ...Queen Latifah turned this mutha out....so very sad throughout the movie....but it was worth watching.....
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 26, 2008
    Another one of my all-time favorites. I definitely give this 5 stars. When I first saw this movie I was sooooo surprised at how things ended. There were no boring scenes. Excellent from start to finish. To me this is one of the best movies made in the 90's.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    May 7, 2008
    some bad ass bitches!! Best bank heist. Love Queen Latifa in this she's a real G even when she goes down at the end. Plus, Blair Underwood is a sexy addition to the movie!
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    April 27, 2008
    So, what's the procedure when you have a gun to your head? What's the f****** procedure when you have a gun to your head?
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    February 3, 2008
    Pending Review...

    Photobucket
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    January 28, 2008
    This was one of those really great action flicks with the same feminine power of "Thelma and Louise." Very powerful, and a movie that makes you care genuinely for the characters.
  • No rating.
    MCT:
    December 15, 2007
    i got moneyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    December 6, 2007
    Loved this Movie, It made you understand why some peole feel they have no choice. Haven't we all wanted to at one time or another, SET IT OFF?
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    November 27, 2007
    Can you say female power, I may not be able to relate to robbing banks, but I sure did love each of the parts these four outstanding women played.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    November 27, 2007
    4 woman sick of being played and and dragged through shit with there bosses and decide to rob banks for a living
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 27, 2007
    Great work ladies, getting broke and robbing a bank, it's not right, but they paid the consecuenses of their actions at the end. Excellent movie.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    October 1, 2007
    Watched a million times and I cry every time Stoney starts cutting her hair at the end. This movie pulls you in. I thought I was robbing banks and stealing cars. Those girls became my friends.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 21, 2007
    Funny, emotional, with great performances from Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah. F. Gary Gray makes the characters relatable.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 21, 2007
    This film is banging! One of the best black urban films ive seen since boyz n the hood! Queen Latifha plays her character so well! Luv it!
  • 3.5 Stars
    MCT:
    September 19, 2007
    when i 1st watched this movie i thought it was too gangsta for me, i couldn't deal with it but now that im older, i understand why Vivica did what she had to do in this movie and its sad how QL dies at the ending. Not bad for females, good movie.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 15, 2007
    This movie is awsome, It touches me because all of us have been hurt like these ladies, and all of us have wanted to get even.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    September 5, 2007
    i loved the movie set it off is the best movie i ever seen before i just love it i like the way Cleo did in the movie of being lesbian Girl is my favorite and break the law is greatest thing i ever loved.
    Robin Morgan
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    August 31, 2007
    This movie is definitely one of my all time favorites. This is when everyone starting really questioning The Queens sexuality and the movie that reall put Jada on the map, Introduced Kim, and showed you that Vivica could be Gangster...."If I hadn't set it off we would be still casing that bank".....
  • 2.5 Stars
    MCT:
    July 25, 2007
    Loved the idea! I has actually been remade into a dutch movie as well called Amazones. But this one is so much better.
  • 3.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 8, 2007
    Ultimate movie of sisterhood and togetherness even if it was to rob banks. I loved the different characters each woman played. I was so sad at the end though.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    July 3, 2007
    Ultimate movie of sisterhood and togetherness even if it was to rob banks. I loved the different characters each woman played. I was so sad at the end though.
  • 5.0 Stars
    MCT:
    June 23, 2007
    Queen Latifah out did herself in this one. She's bad yall! All the ladies were my heroes and I watch this over and over again! Best Movie if you ask me.

My Friends Said...


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Comments


  • sweetladyeec
    One of the best films I have ever seen........ love it.
    posted 497 days ago
  • rottm3
    A movie that once wathced you'll have a different outlook on everyday life. A must see....over, n over, n over, n over again. I loved the girls parts, they all played the hell of em! An the Queen La..gangsta fo sho!
    posted 510 days ago
  • beautifulladyzee
    love it
    posted 845 days ago

Details


  • Rated: (R)
  • Directed by: F. Gary Gray
  • Genres: Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense, Drama
  • Released: November 6, 1996
  • DVD Released: September 14, 1999

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