Is anyone just looking for entertainment anymore, or are we just out to emulate?

Over the weekend, the eLIFE242 team saw the blockbuster hit “Girls Trip” and went to have a good ole time, some laughs and hot dogs…and pop corn, nachos with jalapenos, gummie worms and sweet soda (don’t judge).

For us, we were looking to be entertained by the comedic versions of some of our real life issues and spend some quality time with our “Flossy Posse.”

The movie theatre was jam packed with girl squads; young ones, older ones, squads with mixed demographics, everyone and they mama just wanted to be in there!

Sure there are some celebrities who could get a well to buy water from them, so we knew that when the ensemble of Jada Pinkett-Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall and newcomer and comedian Tiffany Haddish was announced as the leading ladies, the #blackgirlmagic would be in full effect! Black women were gonna make sure this flick was on fleek!

But, honestly the longer we watched the movie, the more we realised that…it wasn’t as funny nor as entertaining as the media made it out to be. Yes, it has its funny parts and, “ah ha” moments, but we soon realised that…

Women really clamour to these kinds of movies hoping to see themselves, hoping to find the answers to their relationship, career, friendship and money issues

And this is fine, to an extent.

Pop culture is so persuasive these days that it appears that many people don’t see it as mere entertainment anymore, but as the Bible by which they guide their lives. 

We do entertainment day in and day out, so of course we too identify with certain characters on TV and fall in love with them, but in no way should people seek to get their real life’s lessons from a scripted show or movie.

Don’t rally up a fake girl squad of women you haven’t spoken to in years to go see the movie, just because it’s the thing to do.

Don’t go home and cuss out your man because something “Stewart” did in the movie reminds you of something he did. 

Don’t “grapefruit” your  man, when you don’t even eat grapefruit, just ’cause it’s in the movie. 

The way friendships, relationships and careers pan out in the movies do a lot for giving us a sense of euphoria and hope but, trust us sis, it’s just a movie.

In real life, yes, there is hope, but don’t parallel yours to the characters you watch.

It feels good to watch the “fairy tale” way we wish life to be and that’s why movies are entertaining; they let us see our problems and lives differently but when the credits roll, feel free to let go of the movie as truth.

There’s no need to hold yourself to these big screen standards and compare your life to those you see on TV.

Let’s not promote #blackgirlmagic, #girlboss and #girlsquad just to be a part of a movement and not really support what these things stand for.

There was a lady in the theatre who came to see the movie alone, she was her own #girlsquad! We were so proud of her! Here was a woman who didn’t feel like she had to sit the movie out because she was alone, she was on her own damn girls trip…solo!

All in all, movies that go viral for their, “we gon’ teach you about love and life” premises, but aren’t really all that great, only get as far as they do because many women throw money at them hoping to get their whole entire lives!

Sis, you’re not Olivia Pope.

You’re not Mary Jane Paul.

You’re not Anastacia Steele, you might never find a Christian Grey…and that’s ok! 

Tell us your thoughts below! Do people want to be entertained or do they wanna emulate?