From the wonderful people who brought us "Not Easily Broken" and "The Game" comes this wonderful film.
It's an all black cast, with black directors, writers, and producers, and everything we'd like to see in a black movie: lightskinned romance, wedding ceremonies, and a Christian moral message.
We must all run, not walk, to the theater to see this instead of the movie about the white man with the hammer (seriously, what white man uses a hammer? Doesn't Hollywood know that real white men hire Mexicans and niggas to use hammers for them?).
If we don't, we're self-hating Uncle Toms who don't want to support our own.
*edit* of course, I suppose it couldn't be any worse than a certain 2008 film of the same title, which involved a black wedding of a different kind: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0955306/
1. "I'm interested to see reactions to this one" In response to Reply # 0
I feel like if this isn't the direction mainstream Black films need to be going in, I don't know what is. It'll be interesting to see how it's reviewed by mainstream media.
Once I got past the two leads ethnic mixtures, I settled in. This was TD Jakes produced, but also Tracy Edmonds. I'm looking for Salim Akil's next flick right now. Never thought much of Laz Alonzo before, but I can see him leading more movies now. Paula Patton leading? She won me over. Loretta Devine appreciation like a mug. Angela Bassett, Meagan Good, Mike Epps finally not wearing out his welcome in a flick and flexing some dramatic muscle admirably. And Tasha Smith at a level that will make this TP show worth watching because be for real, when she's not screaming, she's a beautiful sweetheart.
There was the big family secret and the Jesus message, but I'm giving this a solid B. I went in with ZERO expectations, but damn they surprised the hell out of me with this one.
I'd recommend it because this is the direction to go in. Also because the marketing on this isn't doing it justice.
Realistic relationships and reactions, outside of some extended establishing shots early on, solidly directed. It takes place in Martha's Vineyard, so the scenery is incredible.
~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
i don't know if paula patton is a leading actress. her character was obnoxious as all hell (unintentionally, i think) and her performance didn't do the situation any favors. angela bassett is phenomenal, as usual. ditto loretta devine. i don't understand why meagan goode isn't a bigger star. a solid rom-com starring a lot of people who should be getting more work.
"i smack clowns with nouns, punch herbs with verbs..."
20. "welp she's going to be on califonication..." In response to Reply # 7
> i don't understand why meagan goode isn't a bigger star. a >solid rom-com starring a lot of people who should be getting >more work.
~~~~ When you are born, you cry, and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries. ~~~~ You cannot hate people for their own good.
9. "My wife and I want to see this" In response to Reply # 0
She asked me the other "why can't there be more movies like this instead of Tyler Perry? Instead of it being super black its a movie that just happens to have an all black cast"
All I could say was "very astute of you white lady, but don't be fooled i'm sure there's some churchy church churchin going on in this film too"
12. "f*ck you. paula patton is in this movie." In response to Reply # 0
paula patton's beautiful self deserves hit after hit after hit. if i weren't out the country opening weekend, i'd go see it twice. i'll still go see it twice the following weekend.
18. "I just can't get excited by another Black Wedding Movie." In response to Reply # 0
Which might be unfair to this movie. I haven't seen a black movie in the theater in YEARS (Barbershop II?) and this probably won't be the one to get me out. I will look for it on cable.
********** the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.
********** the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.
30. "Um, NO. Both "Barbershops" had better opening weekends." In response to Reply # 28 Wed May-11-11 04:45 PM by Nukkapedia
In fact, both Barbershops made more than the mean average of Tyler Perry's output.
"Notorious", "Stomp the Yard", and "You Got Served" all also had better opening weekends.
Expanding the definition of "black movie" to include films with mostly black casts directed by non-black directors would bring "Dreamgirls", "Norbit", and "Ray" into the picture. *edit* and "Life". *edit2* AND "Big Momma's House".
Adjusting for inflation would produce more interesting results with films such as "Boyz in the Hood" and "Soul Food"
40. "Yeah I wasn't thinking pure box office..." In response to Reply # 30
was also considering budget but yeah maybe it isn't such a big deal. Oh well, snark on.
********** the test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in the mind at the same time, and still retain the ability to function.
41. "Not trying to snark; just trying to clear up facts." In response to Reply # 40 Tue May-17-11 11:01 AM by Nukkapedia
If it came off snarky, I apologize.
And you did say "box office", not "net profits", a discussion that's a bit too early to have about this film. And with the release schedule for the rest of May and June crowded with crossover blockbusters (not to mention this film's own mixed reviews and word of mouth), "Jumping the Broom" is likely to drop like an atom bomb in the coming months. If it ends up clearing $40 mil in revenue, it'll be lucky.
As far as costs go, "Jumping the Broom" cost $6.6 mil. "Soul Food" had a better opening and cost $7.5 million; "You Got Served" had a better opening and cost $8 million. "Barbershop" cost $12 mil and opened with $20 mil, but (unlike a lot of other black movies) actually had staying power and made $75 mil total. That's why they put that sequel (which also made good money) into production so quickly.
39. "I feel like y'all set me up." In response to Reply # 0
That, or maybe I just expect too much out of a movie. I thought this was terrible, to the point where a thought balloon manifested over my head screaming "FUCK! WHEN IS THIS OVER?!" within the first half hour. All the characters save for Loretta Devine's are cyphers, and none of them are believable as human beings.
It just seemed like an emotionally cheap and easily hopefully) forgettable trifle full of pretty people (or people who THINK they're pretty: Pooch Hall is not attractive). Even Angela Basett seemed to be misacting - between the overemphasized accent and incessant posing, she was giving me more Cruella DeVil than anything else.
Also, I felt so embarrassed for the Julie Bowne character, and for any white person unfortunate enough to attend this picture (sorry, Turtle).
DeRay and, surprisingly, Tasha Smith and Lil' Romeo gave decent turns, as did Valerie Pettiford. Mike Epps gave it a try, but he was really far too young for that part the way it was written as Laz Alonzo's uncle/surrogate father. Everyone else annoyed me for one reason or another, especially our stiff pretty little leads.
I just...ugh. Maybe it was because I saw "Bridesmaids" the night before, but I honestly did not expect this to be as good from the jump. What I didn't expect was to have my head scrunched into my hand in the perpetual "this shit needs to end" pose.
I almost prefer Tyler Perry. At least he ATTEMPTS to write actual characters from time to time.
45. "RE: Jumping the Broom (Salim Akil, 2011)" In response to Reply # 0
Just picked up the dvd. VERY GOOD movie!
-Im in love with Angela Bassett again! -Im glad they showed wealthy blacks who are not entertainers/sports figures. -Meagan Good looks great! Wow! -It was refreshing to see Tasha Smith playing a sweet friend. I love her pool scene! -Mike Epps is the man! -It was good seeing that former CSI star in the flick.
Bumpin in the STEREO: Ashford&Simpson-Come As You Are Jill Scott- TLOTS Full Force-GB1T! RFTW-Long Time Coming New Edition-Heartbreak Black Ivory-Feel It
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