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When I first saw the previews for "Waiting to Exhale", I knew I wanted to see it but for some reason didn't manage to actually get a chance to until two years after the movie was released. Originally, I purchased the movie on VHS but since then, decided that I liked it so much that I was going to go out and also purchase it on DVD. It is without question that DVDs beat VHS any day. The movie, which is based on the award winning novel "Waiting to Exhale" which is written by Terry McMillan, contains an award-winning cast consisting of popular actors, actresses, and even a Grammy winning recording artist. The movie won eight awards and was nominated for another eight awards that include three Grammy's, seven Image Awards, three MTV Movie Awards, and several others.

The cast of "Waiting to Exhale" includes Whitney Houston, Angela Bassett, Loretta Devine, Lela Rochon, and Gregory Hines. Whitney Houston, who is a famous recording artist and also starred in the movie, "The Bodyguard", plays Savannah Jackson, a busy career woman who seems to meet all the wrong men, including an "unavailable" one. Angela Bassett who is known more familiarly for her roles in a flurry of movies including, "How Stella Got Her Groove Back", "What's Love Got To Do With It", and "Rosa Parks", plays Bernadine 'Bernie' Harris, a mother of two, who puts her life dreams on hold in order to help to make her husband's dreams a reality. Loretta Devine, an actress who has had roles in a variety of movies and television dramas that include "Grey's Anatomy", "Boston Public" and "A Different World", plays the role of Gloria Matthews, the single mother of a teenage boy and divorcee. Lela Rochon, an actress who has had roles in a medley of television sitcoms and movies including "Boomerang" and "Any Given Sunday", plays the role of Robin Stokes, a young woman who has yet to find luck in love but who has had success in finding all the wrong guys. Playing the role of Marvin King, the love interest of Gloria Matthews, is Gregory Hines, an actor who has had roles in "The Preacher's Wife", "Renaissance Man", and who has also had roles in several television shows including "Will and Grace" and "Law and Order".
The movie follows the ups and downs of the individual lives of the four women, the struggles they have in their relationships with men, and it highlights the role that friendship plays in each of the women's lives.

The movie begins with Savannah (Whitney Houston) getting ready to go to a New Year's Eve party. She is anxious and excited because she is going to meet a man named Lionel (Jeffrey D. Sams) that she has been talking to or rather they have been leaving messages back and forth for quite some time. She finishes the final touches in preparation for the date that includes an application of lipstick and a spray of perfume. She then heads out the door to the party hopeful of finding love, yet content that if she doesn't at least being able to dance the night away. When she arrives, she sits at the first available table that just so happens to be occupied by couples and it is no surprise when she is shunned by the women who clearly fear that she is out to steal their man. Eventually, she finds Lionel and there seems to be an instant connection between the two and the night of dancing begins. Both Lionel and Savannah are enjoying the dance and eventually Savannah reaches the point of total contentment that is characterized by her taking a deep breath and exhaling. Not long after that, a woman taps Lionel on the shoulder and asks why he hasn't danced with her all night. Clearly, he is there with this other woman. Savannah shoots Lionel an icy glare and then walks out, anxious to get home so she can at least catch the New Year's Eve Dick Clark Show.

In the life of Bernie (Angela Bassett), things tend to be always chaotic. She is busy running errands, picking up kids, picking up dry cleaning, and is heading home to get ready for yet another business function that she is going to attend with her husband, John Harris (Michael Beach). As Bernie is getting ready, John comes in to the room and asks her if she would be terribly upset if they didn't go to the function. Bernie is happy because she wasn't that thrilled about attending the event anyways. At that point, John drops a bomb. You see, it isn't that he isn't going to be going to the event; he just isn't going to go to the event with Bernie. He also informs her that he is leaving her for another woman, who happens to be a white woman, and that he will leave her the house. Bernie, who has basically been a stay-at-home Mom and who has helped to build up John's business is left in a predicament that requires her to sell the house. The breakup is harsh and extremely cold and it is no surprise that it sends Bernie into a depressive state.

On another side of town, Gloria Matthews (Loretta Devine) is doing her grocery shopping. As she heads out to her car, she laments over the fact that she just doesn't understand why her teenage son has to spend New Year's Eve with his friends. In her opinion, he'd have much more fun at home with her watching "Good Times".

Since all the men that Robin (Lela Rochon) encounters seem to be the wrong ones, including her married ex Russell (Leon), she decides to go out with a man named Michael Davenport (Wendell Pierce), a coworker from the insurance company she works for. Michael doesn't quite meet Robin's superficial expectations but since the other ones haven't worked out, she figures she'll give him a try. While physically and sexually Robin is less than impressed, she discovers that Michael has a good heart and that sparks an interest and an attraction for her.

The news of John leaving Bernie for a white woman spreads like wildfire among the town and it is no time before the girls are calling Bernie up to find out what happened. Immediately, Savannah decides to go visit her. When Savannah arrives, she finds Bernie sitting around in her robe drinking wine while watching the videos of her marriage to John along with videos from birthday parties and various special events. Savannah stays there and tries to comfort and console her friend through this difficult life change.

Savannah stays pretty busy with her work but makes it a priority to keep in close contact with her mother, an elderly woman who financially struggles, but doesn't like to ask her daughter for help. Her mother calls up to say hello and to let Savannah know that the former love of her life, Kenneth Dawkins (Dennis Haysbert) has been asking about her and she encourages Savannah to give him a call. Savannah is hesitant because he is a married man with a young daughter but decides to give him a call anyway. It is only a matter of time before the two start to have an affair. Savannah starts to fall for Kenneth again and decides she really wants to be with Kenneth; however, despite his constant complaining about his wife and how unhappy he is, Kenneth always has an excuse or a reason to put off divorcing her. Needless to say, as times passes, eventually Savannah gets fed up.

While Gloria Matthews keeps occupied with her career at her hair salon and raising her teenage boy, things take an interesting turn. When her ex husband Joseph (Lamont Johnson) notifies her that he will be coming into town to visit with their son Tarik Matthews (Donald Faison), Gloria is ecstatic. The last time he came into town he ended up spending the night. Gloria assumes that this time will be no different. When Tarik decides he wants nothing to do with his Dad, Gloria invites Joseph over anyways despite the fact that Tarik will not be there. When Joseph comes over, he tells Gloria that he won't be staying the night and he drops a bomb on her. He tells Gloria that all this time he has been gay. Gloria is surprised, confused, and has no idea how she is going to tell her son Tarik. In the meantime, a new neighbor whose name is Marvin King (Dennis Haysbert) is moving in across the street. Gloria, a woman who is self-conscious about her weight, makes an effort to bring over a plate of food to him and the two hit it off. To her surprise, he likes bigger women, especially those with some "meat on their bones". Sparks fly and it isn't long before the two start dating.

It didn't take long for the relationship between Robin and Michael to end. Things ended up getting heated at work and that led to the demise of the relationship between the two. While Robin goes back and forth with her ex Russell, she meets a new man at the grocery store named Troy (Mykelti Williamson) and although she has her reservations, the two start seeing each other. Although Troy has a few bad habits including some issues with drugs and alcohol, Robin doesn't want to give up on the possibility yet. It is quite suspicious when Robin's wallet turns up missing and raises the question whether or not Troy took it but once again, Robin ignores it. At one point in the relationship, Troy tells Robin that he wants to take her to meet his mama. Since Robin has never had a man who wanted to introduce her to his mama, she decides to give him one last chance. Robin spends that whole afternoon waiting for Troy to show up and when it comes close to sunset, he finally arrives completely drunk and stumbling all around. She breaks up with him on the spot.

"Waiting to Exhale" is a good drama that will make you laugh out loud at some points and shed a tear at others. Not only does the movie have an award winning cast but it also has a great soundtrack with music by various artists including Toni Braxton, Whitney Houston, TLC, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Brandy, and several others.