I don’t know who first said it, but I really believe in the idea that everyone should work in retail or customer service at some point in their life. The lack of empathy we often show to people who work these jobs is infuriating to say the least, and it’s something we see even now with the attempt at shaming Cosby Show actor, Geoffrey Owens, by circulating a picture of him bagging groceries at a Trader Joe’s on social media. Many films have captured the various indignities that come with working in customer service from Clerks to Waiting, but even among the best, they are rarely as quietly and effortlessly observant as Andrew Bujalski’s latest film, Support The Girls.
The film follows a day in the life of Lisa (Regina Hall), a manager at Double Whammies, a Hooters-esque restaurant. She loves her employees, but with her job, she often finds herself dealing with touchy customers, a hot-tempered boss, Ben (James LeGros), technical difficulties, and various other seemingly small problems that just pile on top of each other over the course of the film.
That’s pretty much it. It’s not a particularly plotty movie, which shouldn’t be a surprise given Bujalski’s mumblecore roots. It does, however, paint a very vivid picture of the mundanity of a slow work day and the seemingly small details that can change your mood at any given point, a bad customer, drama among the staff, training new staff, greeting the friendly regular, or just standing around looking for anything to do, watching cars drive by. Plus, with the specific environment these characters work in, the film deals in the idea of women in the workplace, and the constant struggles they deal with, especially by the men around them. It’s hard enough to manage a business, but Lisa’s struggle – as well as that of her employees – is made more difficult by way men demean, condescend, and undervalue them.
But what makes the film such a delight is that despite the various troubles that these characters find themselves into, it’s made loud and clear that women – most of them, at least – care very deeply for each other and are looking out for each other at every step of the way. It explores these situations that are far more complex and nuanced than you’d expect. While the job can be somewhat demeaning for these women, they aren’t judged for doing what they have (and in some cases, want) to do, and the film certainly doesn’t objectify them in the way some of the bro-ish patrons tend to do. The film is really more about finding these miniscule but essential moments of joy inside the late capitalist and patriarchal machine that the women make for themselves, and on their own terms.
Regina Hall is at her very beat here. She’s always been a great performer who rarely gets the spotlight, even in something like Girls Trip, where Tiffany Haddish stole the whole thing right from under her. But here, she’s stellar; bringing a warm, almost motherly presence that is able to charge through the negativity thrown at her, and work to help make things better for her girls. She does a lot with her body and face, changing the way she presents herself to some characters as opposed to others. She has that look I recognize in my mother that says, “you bet I’m exhausted, but I got things to take care of, so I’ll be tired later,” and it’s captured with such honesty and poignancy.
The rest of the cast is also really good. Haley Lu Richardson plays Maci, a fun, bubbly, always positive staff member of Double Whammies. She has a smile and southern drawl that will be impossible to not be immediately endeared by, and she continues to be a bright spot in these indie movies like she did with Bronze, Edge of Seventeen, and Columbus. Another scene stealer comes in the form of Danyelle, played by Shayna McHayle, making her film debut. She’s another one of Lisa’s confidants, who comes in with her young son, who the other employees take turns watching. She brings a cool energy to the film, her delivery is snappy and full of wit and wisdom, and her rapport with Hall feels very natural and affectionate.
Support The Girls is a simple slice of life comedy on the surface, but underneath all the workplace tangents is layers of commentary about being a woman working a thankless, low paying job that leaves them at the mercy of entitled men. And it does all that without coming across as obvious or overstated, its meaningfulness and solidarity comes purely from a place of empathy and compassion for these women and the momentary bits of happiness and fulfillment they can find. It’s full of wonderful performances, and moments that will make you laugh, cry, and relate to, especially if you’ve ever worked in a similar environment. It’s not just one of 2018’s most essential films, it’s one of the most human.