Producer Will Packer Says “Girls Trip” Is His Funniest Movie Yet

This weekend grab your bestie and head to a theater near you. Hit movie producer Will Packer’s “Girls Trip” opens in theaters nationwide.

The movie, which is also directed by Malcolm D. Lee (The Best Man), stars Queen Latifah, Jada Pinkett Smith, Regina Hall, and newcomer Tiffany Haddish. News outlets including Variety describes it as a cross between “The Hangover” and “Bridesmaids” and also suggests it’s the raunchiest comedy to date focused on African American women.

The film depicts a close nit group of friends reuniting at Essence Festival in New Orleans for some much needed fun.

“We needed a trip featuring Black women at the center behaving well, behaving badly owning themselves and their empowerment, because that’s what really happens and it takes place at the backdrop of the Essence Festival which I know very well” Packer told theGrio in an earlier appearance on #theGrioLIVE.

Jada Pinkett-Smith says she was attracted to her role as Lisa Cooper, reformed party girl, conservative nurse and mother of two, because it portrayed African American women letting their hair down.

“To be able to show these women who are intelligent, full of heart, and who are responsible but take a weekend to cut loose, is a beautiful thing, said Pinkett Smith in Variety. “A movie through our lens and our culture, it still has universal themes that doesn’t make it gender-specific or even color-specific, and that’s a beautiful thing to be moving in that direction.”

Queen Latifah plays Sasha a gossip blogger questioning her career choices, while Ryan (Regina Hall) an author an entrepreneur has it all, but is in jeopardy of losing some of it, and Dina (Haddish) is a scene stealer who says what she wants and stirs up trouble, all while remaining loyal to her girls.  

“They are real people, full, well-rounded characters,” Packer told theGrio. “It is not stereotypes. I’m proud if it. I think it is something people will embrace.”

Packer was inspired to make a movie chronicling African American women’s experience at Essence Fest after meeting the love of his life there.

“I got deep ties to Essence Festival, I met (my wife) there and I came back and proposed there,” said Packer. “I made a movie about it; it is an amazing backdrop of all these black women who take over New Orleans every year. I said, ‘This is a movie; we have to make a move about this.’”

If the showcasing of sisterhood and women’s empowerment is not enough to convince you to go out and see this film, there is plenty of eye candy. Larenz Tate, Mike Colter, and Kofi Siriboe all play love interests to the leading ladies of this film and Mike Epps never disappoints, always turning on the comedy.

“I love all my movies, but I think this is the funniest- I really do,” said Packer. “It’s the funniest to date.”

Watch our full interview with Will Packer talking “Girls Trip” below and check out “Girls Trip”  trailer here. It hits theaters Friday, July 21st.