For example, Robin brings home one of her employees, an overweight nerd who has sex with her in a clownish, insensitive manner, and then, a few seconds later, he's portrayed as a considerate, sensitive gentleman. It's a transition that is so stark it makes no sense. (And the next time we see him, he's being quite nasty to her!)

Earlier in the film, Bernadine gets revenge on her estranged husband by destroying his belongings, as she rants and raves and screams profanities, in what is clearly intended as a comic sequence. But moments later, when she is confronted by a policeman at her front door, she's so sad that you may wonder if you were really meant to laugh.

Of course, any movie that can make Bassett look bad — and her over-the-top carrying on is way too much — has problems. After all, this is the woman who gave the only redeeming performances of both "Strange Days" and "Vampire in Brooklyn" earlier this year.

Let's put it this way — when Robin asks, "Don't we hear this on `Sally' and `Oprah' every day?" you may be inclined to agree.

"Waiting to Exhale" is rated R for sex, profanity, vulgarity, some violence and drug abuse.