Aggiungi una trama nella tua linguaSharp social satire in which the uneven friendship between an ambitious Black businessman and his streetwise pal is thrown into further confusion when the professional falls in love with a m... Leggi tuttoSharp social satire in which the uneven friendship between an ambitious Black businessman and his streetwise pal is thrown into further confusion when the professional falls in love with a mind-numbingly gorgeous waitress.Sharp social satire in which the uneven friendship between an ambitious Black businessman and his streetwise pal is thrown into further confusion when the professional falls in love with a mind-numbingly gorgeous waitress.
- Regia
- Sceneggiatura
- Star
- Diedre
- (as Anne Marie Johnson)
- Monroe
- (as Sam Jackson)
Recensioni in evidenza
One day, opposites working in the same structure, but coming from different worlds, will have to collide, as Wayon really liked an unfamiliar beauty in the person of Halle Berry. Bobby will help Wayon find «his dream», and Wayon will help Bobby move up a few notches in business, where the term «stepping on heads» is not rude at all, but a factual reality. In general a fairly standard and classic plot twist, with some adjustments for the «street» specifics, a light melodrama, with a dash of comedy.
Actually, this very «lightness» becomes the other side of the coin - there is no high-flown dramaturgy or conventionally complex messages here, and you can't expect anything in the spirit of Spike Lee's «Jungle Fever», released in the same 1991, where Halle Berry also managed to make her mark in one of her earliest and rather atypical roles. The film also does not claim the laurels of «Wall Street» (1987). To a greater extent, there is a set of purely situational, topical sketches, strung together on a common, rather conventional plot line and placed in a not very long running time of one hour and twenty minutes, but devoid of any depth. The film is generally not bad, but does not stand out in any special way.
The premise is very basic, a businessman finds the girl of his dreams but can't find a way to meet her. Luckily, he has a friend who can get him inside the world she lives in so he can finally be happy. The businessman who only knows how to be a "business man" and nothing else is Waymon (Joseph C. Phillips). Waymon is the best portrayal of how backward someone's life can be depending on how they're brought up. To show this, Phillips makes Waymon look like a stiff, a guy who can't adapt to something different or new; a book worm. That's very relateable because a lot of people are like that when it comes to trying new things and breaking their comfort shell.
The person who will introduce Waymon to this change is Bobby (Tommy Davidson) who apparently lives in Harlem; in other words, his type of demeanor is quite the opposite of Waymon. This is what makes various scenes funny because of how Bobby acts with his co-workers and Waymon. The girl that Waymon wants to get to know is Natalie, played the ever so popular Halle Berry. May I mention that this is only her second theatrical release where she actually plays a more significant role? But even here, she puts in a nice performance, although it could be said that she's just here for eye-candy (which should be a reason to watch this I would think). The rest of the cast also does a good job in doing their part, so no complaints here.
Pam Gibson and Nelson George who did the writing have a decent script here as well. I am surprised to how many times the "N" word was spoken; yet I feel now that if it were left out, it would not have felt as authentic. The subplots are also rather typical but it's forgivable because how much charm the main actors give their characters. There are several genuinely funny scenes in this movie as well. Most of these scenes are the exchanges between Waymon and Bobby when Natalie is around.
However, the one thing I found a little unrealistic is how certain characters had connections to important people. I mean, I know it's possible but both characters have to have some kind of status on the corporate latter, not just one, unless it is one of those rare cases. So I was a little confused on how they met. No explanation was given, that could have at least been explained. Lastly, the musical score provided by Michel Colombier didn't have a main theme but it did carry a consistent tone, which pleased me. A lot of the music played carries culture and continually sounds upbeat and energetic. That always helps a movie, especially if its genre is romance/comedy. It's all around a solid movie.
Not only does it contain performances from actors in their earlier days but it also has a good story to go along with it. The character portrayals are also well scripted.
Overall the movie is really funny and really good. Rating 9 out of 10.
Lo sapevi?
- QuizHalle Berry and Samuel L. Jackson appeared in Jungle Fever (1991) and Losing Isaiah (1995).
- BlooperThe detail-oriented Waymon misspelled the first names of his secretary and his girlfriend on his computer's daily agenda screen.
- Citazioni
Bobby Johnson: You know what, G? You are straight-up whiter than the *whitest* white man!
- Colonne sonoreNow's the B Turn
Performed by Laquan
Written by Laquan, Bret Mazur & Richard Wolf
Courtesy of Island Records
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Dettagli
Botteghino
- Lordo Stati Uniti e Canada
- 7.683.267 USD
- Fine settimana di apertura Stati Uniti e Canada
- 2.456.772 USD
- 10 nov 1991
- Lordo in tutto il mondo
- 7.683.267 USD
- Tempo di esecuzione
- 1h 24min(84 min)
- Colore
- Proporzioni
- 1.85 : 1