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.

"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.

This is one of the great coming of age films that I have ever seen. The character of Drew is so well drawn out and complex you forget that he is just a teenager. You also view the complex relationship between not only cultures but within the family as well. You are pretty much leaving this film wanting more. If one film really cries out for a sequel it's this one.

MATTY, I'M BEGGING YOU, MAKE INKWELL 2 AND SHOW US WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE CHARACTERS YEARS LATER!!!

A black teen (L. Tate) causes a house fire and retreats into himself -- that is, until his parents take him to visit relatives on an island where a section of the beach has been taken over by blacks. Set in the 1970s, the viewer has to get used to the silly hairdos and outfits of the time, and which the writer and director have some fun with, especially during a dance scene. Brothers-in-law Joe Morton and Glynn Turman do not get along at all; the former is an urban working man type and the latter is a pretentious windbag. Eventually, they come to blows in a comic way. Suffice it to say, the introverted kid eventually meets a girl who helps draw him out of his shell. The title refers to the part of the beach that is occupied by blacks, and it is a revelation to the shy kid who has never seen anything like it. Turman as the pompous, upwardly mobile brother-in-law steals the show, which constantly veers from drama to comedy. Worth a watch, although it is uneven.

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