Melodrama is a form of escapism, which also makes some social comment, but is genuinely meant as entertainment not cerebrality.
Set it Off is a spectacular social melodrama characteristically employs the major
melodramatic tools such as a spectacle and stereotypes to appeal to the emotions rather than the intellect. It is a film about emotional enjoyment, to be watched with the heart not the head. The narrative is about entrapment; it uses the characters Frankie, Cleo, Stony and T.T to tell their story, from their POV. Each of the protagonists being the victim of their gender, race and class is trapped by their circumstances. Frankie has managed through her job in the bank to work her way out of her situation, but because of the robbery at her bank she is thrown back into the prison of her oppression. The four turn to bank robbery in an attempt to escape their situations and oppression.
Typical to the melodramatic genre the characters are rather two dimensional and stereotypical and the notorious device of outrageous coincidence features prominently throughout the film, thwarting the girls at every turn. This is seen from the very start of the film with Frankie knowing one of the bank robbers and continues with such coincidences until the slimy Luther finds their haul, and the timing of the final robbery, which accelerates the action for the final spectacle of the chase. Other melodramatic devices that can be seen in Set it Off include the characters being plot motivated rather than character motivated and the spectacle being sensationalised through exciting visual
scenes like the final chase and shoot out scenes.
Music, an intrinsic part of melodrama, also exemplified in the final shoot out scenes, creates mood and emotion throughout Set it Off. It guides the viewer, through their emotions and often anticipates the plot. The music and song that plays during Cleo’s last stand gives the viewer the emotional signals that give this scene its potency. To watch this scene without the soundtrack would emphasise the melodramatic acting style, which is an art form, and make the scene seem overacted and maybe even ludicrous.