"It's been two weeks since 'Mean Girls', and here we go again," said Kevin Maher in The Times: another "film adaptation of a stage musical adaptation of an original, much-adored movie". And beneath it all, there is Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. But in this version, "Walker's poetic prose, religious themes and epistolary structure" have vanished, under a "plethora of incongruous show tunes".
So, as in the book, the resilient Celie (Fantasia Barrino) is repeatedly raped by her stepfather in early 20th century Georgia, and forced to give up the babies she bears as a result – but "now she intersperses the torture with jazzy dance routines". And when she is sold to the deranged Mister (Colman Domingo), who tries to rape her sister Nettie (Halle Bailey) then "beats Celie into a stupor over the next three decades", she has "some nifty melodies for comfort".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Doom: The Dark Ages – an 'exhilarating' prequelThe Week Recommends Legendary shooter adds new combat options from timed parries to melee attacks and a 'particularly satisfying' shield charge
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtripThe Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Sudoku medium: May 14, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
7 US cities to explore on a microtrip
The Week Recommends Not enough vacation days? No problem.
-
Book reviews: 'Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves' and 'Notes to John'Feature The aughts' toxic pop culture and Joan Didion's most private pages
-
Slovenia is ready for its moment in the travel spotlightThe Week Recommends Mountains, lakes, caves and coastline await
-
Splish, splash is just the beginning when you have everything you need for a rollicking pool partyThe Week Recommends Fire up the snow cone machine, and turn on that outdoor movie projector
-
In search of paradise in Thailand's western islesThe Week Recommends 'Unspoiled spots' remain, providing a fascinating insight into the past
-
Dark chocolate macadamia cookies recipeThe Week Recommends These one-bowl cookies will melt in your mouth
-
How to create your perfect bedscapeThe Week Recommends Nighttime is the right time to get excited about going to bed
-
6 charming homes in Rhode IslandFeature Featuring an award-winning home on Block Island and a casket-making-company-turned-condo in Providence
