Set It Off (1996)

The Hollywood crime drama Set It Off effectively uses the various injustices suffered by black women in the inner city as motivation toward a life of crime. The main asset here is that it's a rare instance of black women screenwriters (Takashi Bufford and Kate Lanier) writing for a cast of black women actresses. In contrast to the showy action scenes and the slick production design, the individual hardships and financial problems of the four women are realistic and believable. In an early scene, the four friends get high on a rooftop overlooking an abandoned factory, pining at the prospect of making 15 dollars an hour. Unfortunately, after they become bank robbers, the screenplay starts to suffer from the standard improbabilities of Hollywood action movies and plays out to a needlessly violent conclusion. Also unnecessary is the wild change in tone during the romantic relationship development between tough girl Stony and pretty boy Keith. This seems to be just thrown in for reasons of Cinderella-style wish-fulfillment. What is the most disappointing aspect of Set It Off is its brutal ending, where none of the hard work and sisterhood pays off for any of the protagonists. Though it has been frequently compared to Thelma & Louise, don't expect the same kind of thoughtful, moving catharsis in the final reel. This is just a decent action film, worthy for its initial setup and its unabashed view of gay lifestyles in the black community. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide