Current:Home > Contact-usThe lessons we learned about friendship from 'The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat'-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
The lessons we learned about friendship from 'The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat'
View Date:2024-12-24 08:18:18
Friends can come in and out of your life. But the very best ones feel like family.
This sort of close, sister-like friendship is the foundation of "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat," streaming now on Hulu.
The new movie, directed by Tina Mabry and adapted from the 2013 novel by Edward Kelsey Moore, follows three young women − Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean − and depicts their unusual births, how they find each other and themselves as young women in the 1960s, and their experiences navigating new worries as older married women in the 1990s.
Watching these three Black women find strength amid struggles is sweet, if cliched at times, and it may have you running to hug or text your best friends.
Here are four ways "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" teaches the importance of friendship and had us reminiscing about the best times with our besties.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
Lesson 1: Don't let differences keep you from making new friends
Odette (Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, with Kyanna Simone as young Odette) is fearless and outspoken, but avoids asking for help. Clarice (Uzo Aduba, with Abigail Achiri as young Clarice) is a talented pianist who stresses about perfection. And Barbara Jean (Sanaa Lathan, with Tati Gabrielle as young Barbara Jean) comes from a troubled home, facing a difficult journey to find stability and learn her worth.
They don't judge each other for their differences. Instead, they truly take the time to get to know and support each other, while also celebrating successes.
The young actresses in the movie are fine, but Aduba, Lathan and Ellis-Taylor work so well together, it's a shame that we don't get to see more of their group dynamic in the limited screen time they have. It's especially refreshing to center a film on older Black women and what's important to them. I just wish there had been more of it.
Maybe it's a good reminder to make some time to have a heart-to-heart with your bestie if it's been a while, talk about your dreams or desires, or even make a bucket list or vision board. And don't be afraid to add new friends to your group.
Lesson 2: Consider creating a friend group name
The women at the center of the film call themselves "The Supremes," a nickname given to them by the fatherly Big Earl over at their favorite diner, a reference to the famous Motown vocal group whose main members were Diana Ross, Florence Ballard and Mary Wilson.
Each time they use the name, they say it with pride or as a way of reaffirming their bond.
There's something unifying and maybe even a little mysterious about having a group name with your besties. Even just putting a humorous title on the group chat may bring a giggle − and bring you closer.
'Girlfriends' at 20:Stars including Tracee Ellis Ross remember the series
Lesson 3: Fight for your friends
Early in the film, when best friends Odette and Clarice meet Barbara Jean, Odette is ready to fight − literally, physically − to protect Barbara Jean, who is in danger from her stepfather after her mother dies.
They end up pulling her into their friend group and helping her find a better living situation.
Through family tragedy and scary medical emergencies, the women lift each other up. They navigate generational traumas and ignore the haters − and fight to prove those haters wrong, too.
They come to see the best in each other, but that doesn't mean their relationships are free of hard truths, just softened by love.
I'm not recommending you ponder punching people to protect your pals, but remember to watch out for each other. Sometimes a simple "I've got your back, you're doing great" is all someone needs to brighten their day.
So, you've outgrown your friends:You're not alone.
Lesson 4: Find a favorite place
Times change in the film, but one place stays mostly the same: The women regularly visit Earl's All-You-Can-Eat diner. The friends even have their own table, which the owner reserves for them.
The restaurant is a familiar place where they can meet and catch up, no matter what else is going on.
I know life isn't exactly a small-town sitcom where everyone knows your name at the local coffee place, but establishing a comforting location or activity as a regular meet-up may help make getting together more routine.
It underscores the importance of spending time with friends, being in each other's company, even when life gets busy.
Our friendships can't thrive on connecting through social media and chats alone. And "The Supremes at Earl's All-You-Can-Eat" only drives home how quickly the years pass and how life can change overnight. Hitting like on their latest photo isn't enough. Hug your friends in-person as often as you can.
veryGood! (76771)
Related
- Vegas Sphere reports revenue decline despite hosting UFC 306, Eagles residency
- Kate Cox did not qualify for an abortion in Texas, state Supreme Court says
- Tricia Tuttle appointed as the next director of the annual Berlin film festival
- Police and customs seize live animals, horns and ivory in global wildlife trafficking operation
- Cruise ship rescues 4 from disabled catamaran hundreds of miles off Bermuda, officials say
- Can wasabi help your memory? A new study has linked the sushi condiment to a better brain
- US announces new sanctions on Russia’s weapons suppliers as Zelenskyy visits Washington
- FDNY reports no victims in Bronx partial building collapse
- The Stanley x LoveShackFancy Collaboration That Sold Out in Minutes Is Back for Part 2—Don’t Miss Out!
- Amanda Bynes returns to the spotlight: New podcast comes post-conservatorship, retirement
Ranking
- Craig Melvin replacing Hoda Kotb as 'Today' show co-anchor with Savannah Guthrie
- Broadway audiences are getting a little bit younger and more diverse
- Chinese leaders consider next steps for economy as debt and deflation cloud outlook for coming year
- Japan court convicts 3 ex-servicemen in sexual assault case brought by former junior soldier
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul stirs debate: Is this a legitimate fight?
- Hunter Biden files motion to dismiss indictment on gun charges
- Scientists say AI is emerging as potential tool for athletes using banned drugs
- NBC removes Al Michaels from NFL playoff coverage
Recommendation
-
CRYPTIFII Introduce
-
The Excerpt podcast: Prosecutors ask Supreme Court to decide if Trump may claim immunity
-
The weather is getting cold. Global warming is still making weather weird.
-
Baby boy killed in Connecticut car crash days before 1st birthday
-
MLS playoff teams set: Road to MLS Cup continues with conference semifinals
-
Guest's $800K diamond ring found in vacuum bag at Paris' Ritz Hotel
-
Where does Shohei Ohtani's deal rank among the 10 biggest pro sports contracts ever?
-
RHOBH's Sutton Stracke Breaks Silence on Julia Roberts' Viral Name 'Em Reenactment