Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker continue to branch out and aim higher. Between the success of their restaurants OLG and Blaze Steak and Seafood, their Tony-nominated revival of “The Piano Lesson” and the revival of “The Wiz,” there’s no stopping this dynamic duo. Their latest project, a new film titled “THE PASS” is a sexy testament to just that! “THE PASS” follows Nina (Drew Sidora) and Maurice (Rob Riley), a married couple who gives each other one night off from fidelity — a “hall pass.” Their lives quickly turn upside down as the one night of pleasure becomes a tool of deception. “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” watchers saw some behind the scenes of the film coming to life during the last season and just last month “THE PASS” premiered on Peacock!
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Spoiler alert: if you haven’t seen THE PASS, go back and watch — then come back so we can get into it!
As a day one “RHOA” watcher, immediately I was here for Drew having her leading lady moment, and as a former “Hit The Floor” fan, I was elated to see Rob Riley on screen (listen, if you watched the show, then you know). That said, when the film came out, I anticipated the erotic thriller to be juicy, but the turns this movie took, I didn’t expect by a long shot! Let’s get into the details now that the ones who haven’t seen it yet aren’t reading along anymore. Nina and Maurice have been happily married for seven years and from the jump, her Mama doesn’t trust him one bit. She thinks he’s in it for the money (as Nina has a trust fund — come on generational wealth!), and Nina is telling her Mama that’s my man (no money and all, and ima stick beside him.) After Nina spends months working non-stop, she discusses the idea of the pass and rules along with Terra’s friends, which include none other than Kandi Burruss herself! Persuaded, Nina offers the pass to Maurice, and the plot thickens with all kinds of scandalous activity that you just have to see for yourself!
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Now, while Kandi & Todd more than did their thing as producers yet again with this suspense-filled thriller, the core of the film explores a very serious aspect of marriage that isn’t discussed often, “hall passes.” Still, the overall definition can vary depending on the couple; let’s get technical for a minute.
A “hall pass” is typically an agreement between a couple that they can be intimate with another person outside of their relationship/marriage, typically on a temporary or one-off basis. Would I be okay with it? Absolutely not, but this ain’t about me and my non-negotiables. I’m here to break this down for you so that if your partner comes to you and mentions “hall passes,” you have all the information you need.
Let’s Talk Numbers: The Stats on Open Relationships and “Hall Passes”
According to psychology today 4% which equates to 2.8 million U.S. couples, grant each other permission to:
- Occasionally step out and play sexually with others (“hall passes,” sex clubs).
- Engage in partner swapping (threesomes, swinging, group sex).
- Enter into emotional commitments with more than one partner (polyamory)
The Dangers of “Hall Passes”
“Hall passes” can be tricky and should be entered into with much caution, as according to forensic and clinical psychologist Jeremy Clyman, this type of arrangement does not always include the healthiest line of communication, and they can potentially lead to divorce.
I’m all about consulting the experts, and licensed couples therapist Stacy Cesar agrees with these numbers as, according to her, in her years of working with couples who face many challenges. While she does not have clients who give “hall passes,” she does have several clients who have open marriages and says those couples, in her experience, have the least amount of issues.
“With every client that I’ve worked with who is in an open relationship or marriage, typically the relationship is open from the beginning, and the couples in them have firm expectations and boundaries. Also, in my experience, couples who do well with open marriages aren’t afraid to have the hard conversations, and everyone has their own rules. For some, it’s just dates; for others, sex is involved, and then there are relationships that are totally open.”
Cesar also shared that despite the assumption that there are many couples who open their marriages after infidelity, she finds infidelity is not a reason couples open marriages. “Couples who have closed marriages that experience infidelity, in my experience, still desire monogamy, and their goal is to repair the trust not open the marriage. It’s very rare for a couple who has a closed marriage to open the marriage after a violation.” In terms of advice for couples who are considering open marriage, Cesar recommends clear communication. “Be sure that your communication and boundaries are clear, and if/when something happens that violates a boundary you’ve set as a couple, course correct and assess what needs to be done to establish new levels of boundaries and prioritize your partner’s feelings more.”
I couldn’t agree more on setting those boundaries! Now, let’s get back to the film. “THE PASS” is not only worth a watch, in my opinion, it’s a must-watch! Especially for couples who think the grass is greener on the other side. But in all seriousness, if you’re considering opening your marriage and/or a “hall pass,” be sure that you’re doing it for the RIGHT reasons. Perhaps even consider a written agreement between you and your partner highlighting what the pass means for you two. And above all else, listen to your Mama and stream the movie for the next couples/movie night!
Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s new film THE PASS is now available to stream on Peacock.
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