It's Been 25 Years Since The Release Of "Soul Food," And I Think It's High-Time To Rank The Characters

Obvs, Big Mama is at the top of the list. She worked hard to provide for her family, and did all she could to keep up with the Sunday tradition. She’s the sweetest of them all, and even when she spoke her mind, it was always in a loving way. She dished out lessons just as well as she dished out soul food. My only issue with Big Mama is the cash she had stashed away in the house. So you mean to tell me this whole time Teri paid for everything when Big Mama had the money all along?????? Idk, the math ain’t mathing! I need answers, Big Mama.

This little guy had heart. Yes, he lied and was always in grown folks’ business, but he was the glue that kept the family together after Big Mama passed. It’s a shame it took a child to bring those grown adults together, but it was still precious and wholesome. Plus, it’s only right he’s ranked one of the best, after all, Ahmad was the narrator of the story!

In case you need receipts, here’s a list of things Teri paid for: Bird’s wedding, Bird’s salon, Big Mama’s utilities, Big Mama’s medical bills, some of Miles’s music label start-up costs, the list goes on. I’m on Teri’s side when it comes to her acronym ATM: automatically Teri’s money because her family drained her bank account and still treated her like trash. SMH. She was a successful Black lawyer going for partner, and I felt she had every right to let everyone know she paid for everything because she did! Period. I also don’t blame her for calling Blimp to teach Lem a lesson. It was a necessary thing after he stormed into Bird’s salon, knocking things over and pushing people. After all her family put her through, bearing the pressure of being the oldest and constantly being reminded of how her sister ran off with her ex, it’s a wonder Teri stuck around to finance their endeavors. JS.

Miss thang can’t cook. Bless her heart though. Bird was a young entrepreneur who was honestly trying her best at adulting. But sis, why would you ask your ex to hook your husband up with a job? And then poor Lem who was so thrilled that he didn’t even make the connection at first… Just a sticky situation, but I do believe her heart was in the right place. If there was ever a sequel to this movie, which please let’s not, but if there was, I know Bird would be 1,000 times more mature because it’s the growth for me. So I just blame her foolishness on her youth. It happens.

Kenny. As great of a father Kenny is, I just can’t forget how he went to the skating rink with Teri and went home with Max. LOL. And the way Teri fell during skating and nobody cared. Like, siiiirrrr, I’m crying. Kennnnnny made one bad choice, but I guess he’s cool.

He’s not a family member but he slithers around enough to be included. It was bad enough being Bird’s (or should I say Cola’s) ex, but to rub in Lem’s face that he pulled some strings to get him hired, well, he deserved to get knocked out the way he did in the cafeteria. He’s downright grimy, but at the same time, he doesn’t pretend to be anything else and I kinda appreciate that. I also respect how he knows what he wants and goes after it. Listen, he’s a man with taste, and, he got moneyyyyyy.

When I was younger, Maxine was my favorite because 1. Vivica A. Fox, 2. she was outspoken and direct, and 3. she was always ready to pull up and have Bird’s back. Buuuuut I grew older and realized she was the most toxic sister of them all, always picking fights with Teri and taking her man back in the day. When she compared herself to her sisters, “You got your own shop and Teri’s got a great job at the firm, shoot, all I got is a husband and some kids,” I realized she might be a bit jealous of Teri’s success. 

Not even five minutes into the movie we see Lem dancing with “that hoochie coochie mama with her fat ass,” ON HIS WEDDING DAY! He made a lot of mistakes and for what it’s worth, he did seemingly learn from them, trying to build a better life post-incarceration… But one thing I cannot forgive is how he pushed Bird. Regardless of how he downplays himself storming into the salon, he DID in fact put his hands on Bird and that’s a no-no. 

Aside from his entanglement with Faith, I actually think Miles is a pretty decent man who did not have the support of his wife and unfortunately acted out on that. All I hear is “Girl, I care about you. I’m there for you, so why don’t you care for me like I care ’bout you.” Aw, Miles, he was a bit heartbroken and simply fell out of love with Teri. His actions are not justified by any means, but I do think Teri and Miles were a power couple and they could’ve worked it out.

Faith is definitely a free spirit who goes whichever way the wind blows. That’s as nice as I can put it. She’s one heck of a dancer though. Admit it! You have that audition song in your head now don’t you? And I know you’ve tried to hit a few steps after watching her chassé across the floor. That grab-grab, twist thing with the hips is a classic. Regardless of how great of a dancer she is, when it comes to family, Faith is THE WORST. She’s got a long list of dont’ do’s, starting with crashing at your cousin’s house and sleeping with her husband…