The Inkwell

Often we see so many stereotypical movies about minorities in film. This time a black child, that could just as easily have been a white kid with a script rewrite, begins to experience adolescence as a young man. He has some issues he is dealing with and is counseled by several adults throughout the movie. What I liked most about this movie was the beautiful portrayal of blacks in love. The kids, and the parents. It was like watching an old home movie of my own family.

Too bad Matty Rich disappeared after this film. I was kinda hoping it would turn into a trend. Blacks in positive roles in films.

Matty Rich is proabbly one of the most talented directors you've never heard of. This film about a black teen's summer in Martha's vineyard. Larnez Tate who plays Drew plays this role perfectly as a teen who experiences love,heartbreak and emotion all in one summer. Rich once again proves his talent with this heartfelt film.

I enjoyed The Inkwell very much. It was well directed and the screenplay was solid. Good movie.

So many parts of this movie were truly moving and then you were blasted with utterly stupid scenes...the insane giggling of the adolescent boys, the interactions between the brothers-in-law. What could have been a really tremendous movie was absolutely sidelined by the unsuccessful attempts at over-the-top humor that had none of us laughing.

In fact, when seeing the critics "hilarious" and such comments on the DVD box, it simply reinforced my belief that most, if not all, male critics in our society today are simply 14-year-old adolescent boys in adult bodies. This was simply not funny and should instead have gone with mild humor and the wonderful story basis. Such a shame!

"The Inkwell" starred the veritable who's who of Black actors (at least for that time). Larenz Tate had just come off of starring in "Menace II Society," Jada Pinkett was well known from "A Different World," Morris Chestnut was known for "Boyz in the Hood," Joe Morton had been in plenty of stuff with his last known role in "Terminator 2," Glynn Turman was a veteran going back to "Cooley High," Mary Alice was another veteran going back to the 70's, Phyllis Yvonne Stickney had small parts in bigger movies, but her beauty was easy to spot, Vanessa Bell Calloway also had a familiar face, and Duane Martin was in "Above the Rim" earlier in 1994.

From an acting/actor angle, this movie was well covered, but could it deliver on the goods? I say it did. I found the movie hilarious, diverse, though romantically flat (I'm not a romance buff anyway), and a little thick in the drama department between husband and wife: Kenny (Joe Morton) and Brenda Tate (Suzzane Douglas).

The Inkwell is the name of a beach in Martha's Vineyard that is attended by mostly Black folks, hence the name. I can only assume that the name was affectionally issued by the attendees as opposed to pejoratively named by racists. Kenny, Brenda, and son, Drew (Larenz Tate), went to visit family in Martha's Vineyard much to the chagrin of Kenny and Drew. While there, Kenny and Brenda went through several bouts spurred on by their Republican family. Drew, on the other hand, was trying to find himself and find a girl with the help of his cousin, Junior (Duane Martin).

"The Inkwell," like most dramas, was about working through problems. Kenny had his problems with his wife and he also had problems with his brother-in-law, Spencer (Glyn Turman). Drew had problems with guilt, and he had a problem getting girls. It was a cute and funny movie that I'm glad I watched again.