From Deseret News archives:
Brown Sugar
Film review
Otherwise, this urban-oriented comedy-drama is little more than a knock-off of both "When Harry Met Sally" and "Love & Basketball" and a rather lethargic one at that.
Worse, the film has several opportunities to allow for lengthy performances by hip-hop artists but instead chooses to concentrate on its painfully clich�d "are they friends or are they lovers?" story line.
That main plot thread involves music journalist Sidney Shaw (Sanaa Lathan) and would-be music producer Dre Ellis (Taye Diggs), with whom she's been friends for more than 20 years (they bonded as children because of their love of hip-hop).
But their relationship takes a turn for the worse when she comes back to New York to take over a music magazine and discovers that Dre, who's working at a record label, is going to marry Reese (Nicole Ari Parker). The reunion between the two friends makes Sidney aware of deeper feelings and does the same for Dre, judging by the brief exchange they have just before his bachelor party.
Even the stars aren't at their best. Lathan shows only flashes of her usual charm, while Diggs seems to be sleepwalking through most of the film.
And all things said, the most interesting plot development is the tentative romance between supporting characters musician Mos Def, as a would-be emcee, and Queen Latifah, who plays Sidney's brash cousin.
"Brown Sugar" is rated PG-13 for occasional use of strong profanity (including one usage of the so-called "R-rated" curse word); crude sexual humor, sex talk and other sexual references; brief sexual contact, brief violence (athletic) and use of racial epithets. Running time: 108 minutes.
E-MAIL: jeff@desnews.com
Comments
Cast: Sanaa Lathan, Taye Diggs, Mos Def, Queen Latifah
Find a Movie Theater
- Arrests made in Roy slayings 8:35 a.m.
- Bowden meeting with school officials 8:01 a.m.
- FIFA: Ireland won't be in WCup 8:00 a.m.
- Florida's Dunlap arrested, charged 8:00 a.m.
- Stocks climb early as dollar slides 7:59 a.m.
- China: Talk, not sanctions on Iran 7:49 a.m.
- China: US, NKorea talks to succeed 7:48 a.m.
- China manufacturing expanding 7:46 a.m.
- Consumers late on auto payments 7:46 a.m.
- Sheik: Dubai economy 'strong' 7:45 a.m.
- Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
- Utes won't respond to Hall
- Y. student vanished in China
- Cougs begin bowl preparations
- Max Hall issues apology
- Mitchell called intelligent, controlling
- Daughter: Mitchell fed me my pet
- Matthews passes new Jazz tests
- Rivalry dishes out talking points
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
899 - Cougars beat Utes in overtime
481 - Hall reprimanded by MWC
383 - Max Hall issues apology
382 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
316 - Utes won't respond to Hall
264 - BYU is champion of the state
140 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
122 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
120 - Religion in politics is tiresome
113
Kudos to the Worthingtons and Ms Smith and all the other grandparents who...
Way to go Mr Max Hall,somewhere,some how the Ute fans have forgotten that...
It's part of the rivalry. You know it is true. It will never go away,...
Max Hall is BYU. He is a perfect example of why so many people hate...
just counting all the badges on here...can't finish college be a cop!
Thanks to the Grandparents out there that have taken over this responsibility.
But, Scott, the stereotypes are true!
That "apology" was weak. Max threw a wet rag on the gasoline fire he just...
Yeah, and most of those letters are nutty extremism.
Everyone is wanting other Ute players to be repramanded. WHy? They said it...




You can be the first to comment on this story.