Aside from the over-stuffed cast, the movie has a tendency of copping out whenever a dramatic plot point could develop into something truly poignant. That’s fine if it wants to be a straight out comedy, but unfortunately most of the jokes fall flat too. The audience at the screening I attended was almost completely silent and at one point, there was an audible gasp of shock/disgust at what was supposed to be a “funny” moment. The only time I really laughed was whenever Rebel Wilson appeared on screen. The Australian comedian/actress (she was also one of Kristen Wiig’s roommates in Bridesmaids) was the best thing about the movie, and hers was just a supporting role.

I’m not sure exactly what target market this movie is going for exactly — pregnant 30-something women I guess. But I suspect even they won’t be amused or moved, unless the pregnancy hormones are raging. Skip this one.

Rock went into beauty salons and barbershops to talk to “regular folks” and interviewed actresses, singers and even poet Angelou about black women and their hair. Now, I’ve heard my African American girlfriends talk about their hair and what they do to it before, but as a white woman not involved in the hair industry, I never realized the amount of time, money and often pain, it takes to get and maintain what some people call “good hair.”

For a lot of people in the black community, “good hair” has always meant straight, silky hair. As actress Nia Long put it, “The lighter, the brighter, the better.” So there are some social issues to be explored here but Rock doesn’t delve too deeply into them, and he does presents a rather one-sided case. I’m sure there are many, many black women who think “natural” hair is “good hair” and proudly forgo relaxers and weaves. But we didn’t hear from many of them in the movie. Still it does raise some interesting questions. One good one: why are there so few African-American owned hair product companies when it’s a multi-billion dollar market?

Rock presents some surprising facts that will make you ask questions and elicits some shockingly honest responses to the questions he asks. The movie will surely spark conversation and debate. But Good Hair is social-commentary lite. It makes you think, but not too hard and you’ll be laughing the whole way – after all he is a comedian.