The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat

 

“Look at you walking in here all pretty and shiny. Remind me of The Supremes!” 

Heartfelt, feel-good and saccharine, The Supremes at Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat is a melodramatic soap opera saga that soars on the strength of its ensembles performances who take sappy material and deliver heartwrenching results to craft a surprisingly effective and emotional ode to friendship.

Discussion Points: 

An operatic soap saga that never gets lost in the suds. Genuinely impressed at how seemingly each major player gets a standout scene that feels earned and is delivered with such sincerity and depth of emotion. A true ensemble piece that balances its players and their stories. Jumping back between the past and the present, but never losing focus - each of the Supremes: Odette, Clarice and Barbara Jean, get opportunities to shine - both as their younger self’s and in their later lives. Personal standouts from the ensemble are Uzo Aduba and Tati Gabrielle - but there really is no weak link. It’s a shame that Searchlight dumped this on Hulu/Disney+ because it could’ve been an awards contender in Adapted Screenplay and Ensemble. As it plays out its threads on addiction, infidelity and illness - it brings genuine humanity and heart to the series of compounding tragedies that anchors the melodrama in serious relationships. The chemistry amidst the ensemble - especially its three leads is impeccable - and allows for great moments of comedy, and tragedy. I laughed, I cried, and I had a good time hanging out with The Supremes…but there was way less of Earl’s All-You-Can-Eat than I expected. What I thought may be a chamber piece in a diner booth featuring three friends reflecting is instead a stirring and sassy saga about friendship, family and following your dreams. A really feel-good film.