Girls Trip

Decades on from their college-era heyday, four female pals embark on a wild weekend in New Orleans that will make or break their personal bond. Taking its cue from the success of Bridesmaids (2011), which proved it was possible to be very rude and still feature likeable characters, Malcolm D Lee's raunchy comedy has a distinctly African-American slant, whether it's being eye-poppingly earthy, celebrating sisterhood, or paying close attention to the rivalries that drive even best friends apart. The cast certainly deliver on all fronts, with Regina Hall absolutely believable as an inspirational bestselling author whose success is a facade, Jada Pinkett Smith spot-on as an uptight single mum about to uncoil, Queen Latifah a would-be online gossip queen far from happy in her work, and newcomer Tiffany Haddish a comic force of nature as the eternal adolescent of the group. Not unexpectedly, shock-value highlights (bladder control is an issue!) provide the talking points, but the movie has a surprising degree of heart in its convincing portrait of enduring friendship. A trip well worth taking, though you may never look at a grapefruit quite the same way again.