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Finally watched How Stella Got Her Groove Back and...wow 🥵. Angela Bassett looked absolutely stunning and I'm jealous that I don't have a Winston in my life.

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My ultimate $exy summer film lineup 🥵

La Piscine (1969) – No one talks much, but everyone’s definitely sleeping with each other.

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) – She took a vacation and found her libido (and a man half her age).

A Bigger Splash (2015) – $exy people, messy feelings and one very tense pool.

My Summer of Love (2004) – That summer when you’re either falling in love or starting a cult.

Y Tu Mamá También (2001) – Road trip, $ex, feelings.

Malena (2000) – Too beautiful to exist in peace.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) – Everyone’s hot, confused, and in love.

Stealing Beauty (1996) – She went to Italy, found poetry, love, and drama.

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

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Roundtable Presentations: How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan is a romantic-comedy/drama based on the novel by Terry McMillan. The story revolves around Stella Payne, a successful, middle-aged Black woman who seems to be "all work, no play", as she balances maintaining the success of her career and being a mother. The movie stars Angela Bassett as Stella Payne, Taye Diggs as her love interest, Winston Shakespeare, and Whoopi Goldberg as Stella's best friend, Delilah.

In efforts to get Stella to take a break from her busy day-to-day life, Delilah convinces Stella to accompany her to Jamaica. At first uptight and uncomfortable, Stella soon starts to relax after she meets Winston Shakespeare, a 20 year old Jamaican man. Though cautious at first, and wary because of the age difference, Stella finds herself falling for Winston. The story explores the challenges and joys of their relationship, as well as Stella's journey of rediscovering herself and finding happiness.

The film is made up of mainly Black characters, with the exception of a few White side characters. This creates room for complete exploration into the Black characters on the screen, whose stories are almost always viewed as secondary to their White counterparts. Through Stella, the film works to transcend the limitations of Black womanhood that can be seen in classical cinema. Stella's character provides us with an archetype of Black woman that is not often portrayed: the successful, driven, mother who proves that she can achieve love on top of all of that. Rather than existing as comedic relief, the ethnic best friend, or sexual temptress, common stereotypes of Black femininity, Stella models a professional, successful Black woman who wants to fulfill every facet of her life.

Stella and Delilah's friendship is characterized by jokes, laughter, and encouragement. Without Delilah, Stella would have never travelled to Jamaica, met Winston, or gotten her groove back. Delilah is quick witted, "sassy", and always has Stella laughing. While Delilah is the clear "best friend" character to Stella, their friendship fosters a sense of Black woman companionship that is not always displayed on screen. Their friendship does not go awry, one does not betray the other, but their relationship continues to flourish, even until Delilah is on her deathbed. Towards the end of the film, Delilah becomes sick. Stella continues to visit her in the hospital, and the two recount their memories as they enjoy the last moments of each others company. The film works to uphold Black female friendship, and display its resilience even through hardship.

Overall, How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998), transcends the traditional framework of romantic comedies. Rather than using Blackness purely for comedic purposes, the film uses it as grounds for exploration into life outside of constructions of Whiteness.

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 How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)  dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan

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How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998) dir. Kevin Rodney Sullivan

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Courtney Cox in the series Cougar Town 

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Jennifer Aniston 

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Jennifer Aniston in the movie Just Go With It

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Tina Fey

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Sofia Vergara

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Kelly Brook

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Kelly Brook

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Kelly Brook

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Helen Mirren

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Kelly Brooks