Waiting to Exhale (1995)

52% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
78% of users liked it
(37,358 ratings)

A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed… More A surprise Hollywood hit, this film is based on the novel of the same name by Terry McMillan and centers on four well-to-do African-American women and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man. Robin (Lela Rochon) is the long-time mistress of Russell (Leon), who keeps reneging on his promise to leave his wife for her. She dumps him to find a man she can have to herself, but her dates with a reliable but unattractive business partner (Wendell Pierce) and a drug addict (Mykelti Williamson) send her back to Russell. Savannah (Whitney Houston) is a successful television producer who also believes that her married lover Kenneth (Dennis Haysbert) will leave his wife. Bernadine (Angela Bassett) is a wealthy woman who abandoned her own career to raise a family. Her husband is now leaving her to marry a white woman. Gloria (Loretta Devine) is a beauty salon owner and single mother raising a teenage son. After years alone, she falls in love with a new neighbor, Marvin (Gregory Hines). The women share their stories over lunches and conversations at Gloria's salon. ~ Michael Betzold, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 1 min.
Directed By: Forest Whitaker
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 22, 1995 Wide
On DVD: Mar 6, 2001
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
Never escapes the queasy aura of Melrose Place: just another story about beautiful people with small problems.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A pleasant if undemanding piece of work that is diverting to sit through though it won't stand up to any kind of rigorous examination.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
With one possible exception, none of its women is at all likable.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
For all the pleasure there is in seeing effective, great-looking black women grappling with major life issues on screen, Waiting to Exhale is an uneven piece.
James Berardinelli, ReelViews
With the exception of Bernadine, I never felt anything for the women populating this film, as they failed to capture my interest or sympathy.
Joan Walsh, Salon.com
The male-bashing taken to an extreme in Waiting to Exhale is starting to seem a little like crack for the female psyche, exhilarating in the short term but ultimately crippling and dangerous.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Stylish but shallow melodrama, based on McMillan's best-seller.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Whitney Houston's alleged dramatic acting and dull, uninvolving storyline weighs down the virtues of the film.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Offers a winning portrait of sassy black sister solidarity.
Christine James, Boxoffice Magazine
There are some humorous observations, irrefutable truths and good performances that make this movie worthwhile to those in a man-bashing mindframe.
Leslie Rigoulot, Film Scouts
Is there a woman alive who hasn't demanded an explanation from the Almighty about the losers that she keeps getting?
Bruce Kirkland, Jam! Movies
It is a two-hour music video, Houston is pretty but dull, and the dynamo Bassett has been better elsewhere.

Read all 12 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

Meh.
Nani V

It gets a little slow towards the end...but, it's okay.
Candy R

Movie about friendship and how very different women deal with their partners.
danny d

a movie about angry chicks
Sunil J

A cute movie I saw when I was a bit too young and just rewatched. I liked the characters but there was a bit sloppy stories that were a little too overdone or one-sided.