One Small Meeting

[davetheanalyzer]

The library writer group meeting for this month was even more sparsely attended. Aside from me, only two other people showed up at the zoom meeting. We asked each other what we wrote or read like we do every meeting but it eventually devolved into talking about various writing topics and giving writing advice to each other. Some of it involved how to write characters and plot and how to keep up a writing routine; I even recommended a writing advice youtube playlist that I’ve been listening to. It ended an hour early because the other two decided to end things but I felt fulfilled after. There are some benefits to a smaller group, even if I still feel verbally clumsy when I speak. I guess I’ll work on that through experience. I’ll be resuming sending story submissions next month and try to hold my tongue when I get feedback, which’s the advice I got from the youtube playlist.

EDIT 9/02: Changed the last paragraph of the review in light of certain allegations against one of the four starring actresses. Read tag warning. It's up to your discretion if you want to read the last review paragraph or skip the whole review altogether.

I decided to watch the film Girls Trip, having heard about its good reception and wanting to try out more genres. It was an enjoyable experience. There were a few raunchy moments that squicked me out but it was a funny time with conflict and pathos. It’s about a friend group that has been drifting apart but find an opportunity to reunite. Ryan Pierce is a successful lifestyle guru trying to project a happy marriage with Stewart for the benefit of those inspired by her image. Sasha is a journalist stuck working in the tabloid world and holds some mixed feelings about Ryan, though seems to hold her tongue there like with some of her other struggles. Lisa is a single mom who had to rely on structure in order to get by on life. Dina’s fiercely loyal and the life of a party, which makes her honest and open to many experiences but also impulsive and not always aware of or respecting other people’s boundaries. At the New Orleans Essence Music Festival where Ryan plans to give a speech, the four who call themselves the Flossy Posse are able to reunite and despite some awkwardness, get back into their usual shenanigans.

The theme with the story seems to be going back to your roots and through that, rediscovering yourself and what you want to do with your life. Lisa’s friends are able to draw her out of shell, loosen up, and have fun again. Sasha seems to bury the hatchet with Ryan and even try to help her after the latter’s marriage problems are revealed. Dina gets to enjoy being with her friends again and get them outside their comfort zones. Ryan especially needs it and seems to enjoy herself. I was amused by the scenes where Dina just goes on and on about what she’d do to the cheating Stewart or how to do a sex act. Despite the trouble they get into, they seem to have a good time. Ryan’s reluctant to break up with Stewart, even with the woman he had an affair with Simone showing to cause trouble. Ryan doesn’t want to reveal to her fans their role model isn’t measuring up, even as she’s broken up by the relationship. Even when Julien reenters the Flossy Posse’s life and she takes to his kind nature and how he often looks out for the four, she resists their chemistry to stay with Stewart.

After Simone goes to the press about the affair, Ryan suspects Sasha and the four have a huge fight. Sasha reveals she felt abandoned by Ryan leaving their business venture and ganged up upon since Lisa and Dina always take Ryan’s side. One interesting thing revealed after the fight is Dina hinting she worries if the others value her for more than a laugh. I wonder if that’s a recent or long-term worry. Dina and Lisa are the first to make up before meeting Sasha who shut down her gossip blog. Even if she didn’t leak the affair, Sasha saw how Ryan was hurt and no longer wants to be part of the gossip life. At her speech, Ryan initially goes with the lie about the affair photos being fake. I found it touching after her friends arrived, Ryan comes clean and her openness about the pain leads to the audience supporting her. I also like she told Stewart off and that she revealed she avoided her friends so she wouldn’t face the truth of her life. To make up, Ryan’s the last to put on Lisa’s silly coats. I’m glad that Ryan’s honestly meant she still kept her spokesperson deal, with Ryan asking Sasha to be her business partner. And the Flossy Posse seem to plan to have more adventures together.

There are some caveats with the film, that Stewart and Simone are darker-skinned antagonists, which has colorist implications. Lisa wears an indigenous Guatemalan dress that her friends roast in a way that might be racist. Dina and Ryan’s agent not always respecting others’ sexual boundaries is used for comedy. With all that in mind, if this film sounds interesting to you and you don’t mind raunchy scenes and language, I’d recommend it. EDIT 9/02: Decided to cross out the last sentence in light of Dina's actress Tiffany Haddish's child grooming allegations (CW for graphic description). If you still want to see the film, that's up to your discretion but know that Haddish's character plays a major role in the story.

That’s it for now. I’ll have caught up with the writing days I missed within October. I don’t know if I’ll go back to writing two hours a day at that time but it’s something I’d like to do at some point. Until September’s end, see you!