Waiting to Exhale is a 1995 American romance film directed by Forest Whitaker (in his feature film directorial debut) and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett. The film was adapted from the 1992 novel of the same name by Terry McMillan. Lela Rochon, Loretta Devine, Dennis Haysbert, Michael Beach, Gregory Hines, Donald Faison, and Mykelti Williamson rounded out the rest of the cast. The original music score was composed by Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds. The story centers on four women living in the Phoenix, Arizona area and their relationships with men and one another. All of them are "holding their breath" until the day they can feel comfortable in a committed relationship with a man.
Whitney Houston as Savannah "Vannah" Jackson. Savannah is a successful local TV/Entertainment Producer who after few failed relationships, decides to move from Denver, Colorado to Phoenix, Arizona, where she is reunited with her best friend and college roommate, Bernadine. While trying to navigate a successful Production career, an aging mother, she dabbles into relationships including an on/off courtship with a married businessman, Kenneth, played by Dennis Haysbert.
Angela Bassett as Bernadine "Bernie" Harris. Savannah and Bernadine have been best friends since college. She vents her anger on John by burning his clothes and car and selling the remainder of his personal items for $1 apiece.[1]
Lela Rochon as Robin Stokes. She is a high-powered executive and the long-time mistress of Russell. After dumping him, she has problems finding a decent man of her own.[2]
Loretta Devine as Gloria "Glo" Matthews, a beauty salon owner and single mother.
Gregory Hines as Marvin King, Gloria's neighbor with whom she falls in love.
Dennis Haysbert as Kenneth Dawkins, Savannah's married lover
Mykelti Williamson as Troy
Michael Beach as John Harris Sr., Bernie's husband, who leaves her for a white woman.
Donald Adeosun Faison as Tarik Matthews, Gloria's teenage son.
Leon as Russell
Wendell Pierce as Michael Davenport
Jeffrey D. Sams as Lionel
Jazz Raycole as Onika Harris
Brandon Hammond as John Harris Jr.
Kenya Moore as Denise
Lamont Johnson as Joseph
Kelly Preston (uncredited) as Kathleen
Wesley Snipes (uncredited) as James Wheeler
Giancarlo Esposito (uncredited) as David Matthews, Gloria's ex-husband and father of Tarik.
The soundtrack to the film featured exclusively female African-American artists. The soundtrack included the number-one hit songs "Exhale (Shoop Shoop)", sung by the film's star, Whitney Houston,[11] and "Let It Flow" by Toni Braxton as well as "Not Gon' Cry" by Mary J. Blige, "Sittin' Up in My Room" by Brandy, and "Count on Me" by Whitney Houston and CeCe Winans, all of which reached the top ten of Billboard's Hot 100 chart