Last month, Hollywood insiders finally unlocked their lips and revealed that Girls Trip 2 is in production! As someone who became an instant fan of the original, I’ve been holding my breath in anticipation of a sequel that reunites the Flosse Posse, four best friends (played by Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith, Tiffany Haddish and Queen Latifah) who traveled to New Orleans to attend the Essence Music Festival and rekindle bonds unraveled by pride, fame, and time itself.
Don’t let the bones of the film mislead you. The cast and writers pack laughs into every scene, making it the perfect addition to any Galentine’s Day movie marathon. And as you move into said movie marathon, you might notice a common element: Queen Latifah. She’s not just funny. She’s funny AND she’s the woman every guy foolishly overlooks for the first half of too many movies.
Since starting her on-screen career acting in crime thrillers like Juice and Set It Off, Latifah has leaned into romantic comedy roles, seemingly trading in semiautomatic rifles for Mr. Right. Journey with me as we tour through Queen Latifah’s best rom-com moments.
Bringing Down The House (2003)
In Bringing Down the House, lonely attorney Peter Sanderson (Steve Martin) goes on an internet date with Charlene Morton (Queen Latifah), at a time before FaceTime was invented. Peter later finds out that Charlene is a felon when Charlene breaks out of prison, shows up at Peter’s place, and casually demands that he prove her innocence.
Peter is offended by Charlene’s presence initially, but her thuggish charm breaks down Peter’s wall and she begins to win over Peter’s neighbors and coworkers, including those portrayed by Eugene Levy and the late Betty White. Soon enough, Charlene begins doling out relationship advice that brings Peter closer to his kids and estranged wife. Of course, this upswing in Peter’s life comes at a cost, and ultimately, Peter pays by helping Charlene clear her name.
Valentine’s Day (2010)
Okay, I hear you: who wasn’t in the film Valentine’s Day? Seriously, the credits include Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Ashton Kutcher, Emma Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Topher Grace, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Alba, Jennifer Garner, George Lopez… I mean, really, how many ways did Warner Brothers have to slice that big check?
Among all these names, there, too, is Queen Latifah’s. This film tells the interlocking stories of people who are straight up getting their ass kicked by cupid. Here, Latifah plays a sports agent stressed about her star client leaving the NFL. So stressed, in fact, that she can’t even lament her bumpy ride on the V-Day struggle bus. The Queen isn’t too wound up to deliver the laughs, especially in her most memorable scene where pretends to be a phone sex operator to scare off an incessant caller.
So grateful to be living in the “Scam Likely” era of telecommunication.
Just Wright (2010)
Latifah stars in Just Wright playing a work-first, pleasure-never sports therapist Leslie Wright, who has begun realizing her dream of working in the NBA. Yet, her dreams of love have failed to take shape. Her best friend Morgan (Paula Patton), however, has a much easier time connecting with men, sending Leslie through fits of doubt and frustration.
Then, the perfect man, NBA player Scott McKnight (played by rapper Common), comes into Leslie’s world; however, he initially sets his eyes on Morgan, whom he dates momentarily. Pained, Leslie finds solace in her work, but after a series of innocent encounters, she warms up to the idea that McKnight could be Mr. Wright. Her down-to-earth sensibilities and high cheekbone smile are essentially Leslie’s rope ladder out of the friend zone in this film, where she gets her happily ever after.
Brown Sugar (2003)
Although Queen Latifah does not play the lead in Brown Sugar, her character, Francine, plays an equally important role. She’s the outspoken cousin of the lead female character, Sidney, portrayed by Sanaa Lathan. Out of love, Francine pushes her hard-headed cousin to pursue her childhood sweetheart and love of her life, Dre (Taye Diggs).
Francine is a constant whisper in Sidney’s ear, telling the hip-hop journalist to get her man at all costs, even if it means objecting at his wedding or catching his wife cheating.
Last Holiday (2006)
Queen Latifah leans more on her dramatic acting sensibilities for her role as Georgia Byrd in Last Holiday. Georgia lives an uneventful, ordinary life selling cookware at a department store. She longs for the comfort of her coworker, Sean (LL Cool J), who oddly enough shows up in her scrapbook as her dream husband. But many of the desires of Georgia’s heart are sealed.
That is, until she learns from her doctor that her time on Earth is dwindling. Georgia sets out to shake up what’s left of her life, taking herself on a lavish vaation and treating herself to dinners and social events with some of the wealthiest people in the world. Self-care days in the Czech Republic do your girl well, and Latifah manages to mack on the man she’s been dying to get with!
