Royally presided over by the inimitable Queen Latifah, this Atlanta-set comedy examines race, gender, sexual orientation, sisterhood and why white girls can't dance, with a homegrown wit and an inviting warmth. And the ATL looks even better than it did in Diary of a Mad Black Woman.

Gina (Latifah), who was briefly glimpsed in Barbershop 2 (with which this movie shares a producer), has moved down south from Chicago with her young daughter, Vanessa (Paige Hurd), a piano prodigy. As the movie opens, Gina is working at an upscale salon owned by Jorge (the ever-surprising, ever-wonderful Kevin Bacon), a mincing bit of self-absorbed Eurotrash who refers to himself in the third person. When a fed-up Gina argues with him, he sneers, ``You wish to altercate with Jorge?''

That or leave. Which she does. Taking Jorge's shampoo girl, Lynn (Alicia Silverstone) and two of Jorge's best clients (Mena Suvari and Andie MacDowell) with her, she opens up her own place in a funky neighborhood. However, the shop has its challenges. As one character says, ``It looks like somebody swallowed the '70s and threw them up in here.''

More challenging still is Gina's array of hairstylists (headed by Alfre Woodard, Golden Brooks, Sherri Shepherd and Keshia Knight Pulliam), who have minds, and styles, of their own. Silverstone's unpretentious, friendly country girl - the only white stylist in the shop sits better with some than others. And everyone wonders what's up with the hugely hunky James (Bryce Wilson) who does hair beautifully and lifts his pinky finger when he sips coffee.