She’s the ultimate Alpha female, Jordan (Regina Hall) runs her highly successful tech enterprise mercilessly. She insults and constantly threatens her staff. She’s condescending to everyone else in her world. One day Jordan offends the wrong person who magically transforms her back to her 13-year-old self. After getting over the shock of this transformation, she realizes that even as a teen she has a business to run. So, she turns to the primary target of her abuse, April (Issa Rae), her personal assistant to serve as her guardian and to run the day-to-day operations of her business.

Little is simply a lot of fun and it gets a See It! rating. It’s funny and even as a comedy serves up superior acting. Marsai Martin of Blackish fame who plays the younger Jordan, rules! She personifies the teenage version of the iron-willed executive that we saw in the adult Jordan. Her performance is key to the success of Little. She also works her natural “do” throughout the movie. Marsai who will soon be 15-years-old in real life also is one of the film’s executive producers, and according to NPR that makes her the youngest one in Hollywood.

Marsai Martin, as the preteen Jordan Sanders in the movie, Little. Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures

The rest of the creative team includes Tina Gordon, Will Packer, Kenya Barris, and Tracy Oliver. This group of African Americans should be commended for the creation of such positive black characters: Jordan has two married parents. There’s nobody on welfare or in jail. And no one calls each other the “N” word. Jordan definitely behaves like what many would call the “B” word, yet no one says it! (And they shouldn’t.) While this is definitely a female dominated story, the black men are upbeat and supportive of the ladies as they deal with their myriad of issues.

Little earns a solid “A” for cast diversity. It’s frankly one of the most diverse casts you’ll see. Which is also consistent with the fact the story is set in Atlanta. Little is rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and is 109 minutes in length.

Take a little time to see Little. You won’t regret it!

WATCH VIDEO: Is Drake dating a teenager? Nicki and Cardi, can’t we all just get along? Chadwick Boseman shows up big time, and; an interview with Nabate Isles

In the Quick Takes section of this episode of What’s The 411, award-winning journalist, Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about Cardi B, Nicki Minaj, Tamar and Vince, Chadwick Boseman's visit to St. Jude's Hospital, Kenya Barris' new deal with Netflix, hip-hop icon, Drake, was spotted in a Washington, DC restaurant with 18-year-old model, Bella Harris, and how Nike's stock price shows the people are embracing the company's moves, even actress Jenifer Lewis wore blinged out Nike gear on the red carpet at the 2018 Emmy Awards show.

Additionally, the episode includes an interview with Grammy Award-winning trumpeter and composer, Nabate Isles, talking about his debut album, Eclectic Excursions.

K. Michelle brings up her old flame, Idris Elba; sex dolls are back, and this time with artificial intelligence; Meghan Markle's husband wants to cash in on Ms. Markle's celebrity

In this episode of What's The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McLean are talking about:

In Quick Takes, the duo is giving a rundown of the following news stories:

• It’s official. Television producer, Kenya Barris, is following in the footsteps of Shonda Rhimes. He is leaving his overall pact at ABC, which terminates in August. Sources state that Barris will remain an executive producer on all of his shows, Black-ish on ABC; Grown-ish and the upcoming Besties on Freeform. He will continue to work on the ABC Studios projects he has in development, and his Netflix deal is expected to be substantial.

• Tamron Hall is on her way back to daytime! She has inked a deal with Disney for a new Daytime talk show, and she stated in a press release:

“I’m so thrilled to partner with Disney ABC to create a daytime television show that’s unconventional, fun, intimate and sometimes even raw. My new partners appreciate and respect the relationship I’ve built with my audience and know that if we create television worth watching, they’ll join us for the ride. I’m so grateful and excited for this next chapter. The landing makes the leap of faith so worth it."

• Actor and rapper, Will Smith, announced in a video on Instagram that he is teaming up with self-help author Mark Manson to write a book. Smith said:

• “We’re going to be meeting with five publishers… we’re gonna pick one. And if I had to take a guess, I feel very confident that we’re gonna go with the highest bidder… I’m just saying.”

• We talked about Meghan Markle’s father and sister doing everything possible to cash in on the celebrity of the Duchess of Sussex. Now, Meghan Markle’s ex-husband, Trevor Engelson, wants in, too. He’s planning to put all of their business on Front Street.

• And, in case you missed it, Beyoncé will be on the all-important September issue of Vogue magazine. Beyoncé’s photos were shot by Tyler Mitchell, the first Black man to shoot a Vogue cover.

• Singer K. Michelle fondly remembers her romance with actor Idris Elba, she told Hollywood Unlocked that “they split up because he wasn’t ready to settle down. “He told me he would never be committed to one woman. He said I would be taken care of, I would be fine, but he would never commit to one woman.”

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RACE and CULTURE

KIZZY: There is a huge debate going on right now about the unequal treatment of Black people subjected to gun violence vs. White people. Recently, actress Anne Hathaway, who is white, shaken by the death of Nia Wilson at the hands of a white man, challenged white people to wake up and pay attention. Hathaway said in part, White people DO NOT have equivalence for this fear of violence.”

Even David Hogg one of the survivors of the Parkland H.S. massacre in Florida said he would use his “white privilege” to also address the often overlooked gun violence in black and brown communities.

Q. Now, granted, Black people are not monolithic, but the response to these overtures have been mixed, ranging from it’s about time that white people are recognizing the inequality to, no I am not afraid and only Black people can help Black people. Where do you stand on this issue?

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Recently, Meagan Good’s husband, DeVon Franklin, in an effort to separate dating from marriage posted on Instagram:

“There’s a time to act like husband and wife, but if doesn’t come until you’re actually married—until you have that indelible commitment to each other.”

Q. Do you like this idea? What happens when people choose to live together minus the marriage nuptials?

WHAT’S POPPIN' – RELATIONSHIPS

ONIKA: Speaking of marriage, ‘The Daily’ host Michael Barbaro, splits from his husband and is now dating a female producer on another show at The New York Times.

Q. I know that we live in a fluid society, but would you date man who was married to a man?

WHAT’S POPPIN – FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

KIZZY: If you are a regular viewer of What’s The 411, you know we have talked about sex dolls at least twice before. Well, sex dolls are back in the news! And, this time because the manufacturers in China are now including artificial intelligence in the dolls. So they will be able to hold short conversations.

Q. Where are we headed with this? Is this good for society?

Starbucks CEO demonstrates leadership in face of adversity; Tristan Thompson is in hot water; Kenya Barris gets a court date; Trinidad ends Buggery Laws

In this episode of What's The 411, journalist Kizzy Cox, and comedian Onika McClean, are talking about Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian's relationship, Mariah Carey reveals she is bipolar, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson takes action amidst unnecessary arrest of two Black men and the ensuing protests, Trinidad ending its Buggery Laws, and more! 

In Girls Trip, the decades have passed and four college friends Ryan (Regina Hall), Lisa (Jada Pinkett Smith), Dina (Tiffany Haddish), and Sasha (Queen Latifah) travel to New Orleans for the annual Essence Festival. They are determined to have a GOOOD time and unleash all inhibitions.

Girls Trip is a Trip. It’s vulgar, crass and disappointing. This barrage of crudeness is ultimately the film’s undoing. There is a constant referencing to women as the “B word”. And, the “N word” and MFs are flying everywhere. There’s nothing funny about someone suspended in air urinating on the people below. This happened twice! Dina is sexually tempted by a filthy, old, homeless man who exposes himself to the group.

The characters are stereotypes fitting comfortably into pigeon holes. Tiffany Haddish, who I have to admit I had never heard of before, as Dina, is loud, crude, damn near a nympho. On the other hand, Lisa is matronly, prim and proper, and blindly devoted to motherhood. Sasha is the struggling one who’s trying to keep up a façade of financial and career success while things are crumbling. And then there’s the highly successful Ryan whose fairy tale marriage to former football star, Stewart (Mike Colter), is marketed as an example a woman who’s having it all.

The storyline involving Ryan and her husband is substantive and interesting. His ability to smoothly rationalize his misgivings is nothing short of amazing. Unfortunately, his talent and the film’s attention to worthy scenes are lost in a bombardment of B.S.

I am embarrassed for Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, and Jada Pinkett Smith because they are all talented actresses. And I understand that there’s a paucity of quality roles for black women in Hollywood. But, Girls Trip?

Further, I don’t know where they got the “guy” who’s hairless, lotioned, lady legs are featured in the film’s poster. Real men don’t shave their legs – unless they’re swimmers.

Girls Trip is written by Kenya Barris who penned Barbershop: The Next Cut. That film featured black men of dignity and character. I wonder why he chose to write such trash for women.

Girls Trip also trips up when it comes to casting diversity, earning a C-. We have to be fair in discussing diversity. Other than Kate Walsh who plays Ryan’s agent, Lara Grice, a TV exec, and a few minor roles, this cast is all black including individuals in the background.

Directed by Malcolm Lee and produced by Will Packer, Girls Trip has a modest budget for films today, $28 million. It’s rated R for crude (you can say that again), sexual content throughout, pervasive language, brief graphic nudity, and drug material. Girls Trip is 122 minutes too long.

Sorry girls but your trip is Dead on Arrival!