Film And DVD Reviews by Phil Boatwright

Bow Wow, Ice Cube, Brandon T. Jackson, Naturi Naughton, Keith David, Charles Q. Murphy, Loretta Devine, Terry Crews. Warner Bros. Comedy. Written by Abdul Williams. Directed by Erik White. 8/20/10

FILM SYNOPSIS: Kevin Carson (Bow Wow), a young man living in the projects, wins $370 million in a nationwide lottery. When his opportunistic neighbors discover he has the winning ticket in his possession, Kevin must survive their greedy and sometimes even threatening actions over a three-day holiday weekend before he can claim his prize.

This film has been rated PG-13 for sexual content, language including a drug reference, some violence and brief underage drinking.

REVIEW: It’s a good-natured look (if somewhat predictable) at what is important and what isn’t about money, life and relationships. I laughed and enjoyed the characters, though they were a bit too cartoonish, even stereotypical, with much of the humor a little too familiar. But you don’t have to think at any time. Just sit there and eat your Jujubes. Alas, there are several crude sexual comments, and everyone cusses, including the religious granny. (I almost thought we were going to get through the entire movie without someone using God’s name followed by a curse, but it finally shows up in the final act.)

PG-13 (several crude sexual comments; the entire production is peppered with minor expletives, several uses of the s-word, one f-bomb, both men and women are called by a derogatory name and the N-word pops up now and again; one profane use of God’s name

Violence: Several beatings; some blood when the lead is punched in the mouth; two sexual situations that end without anyone getting beneath the sheets; none, but the camera focuses on tightly-clothed, and I might add, voluptuous young women from time to time; a couple of sexual references; a church service is used for comedy, the pastor more interested in money and young women than following the teachings of Christ). Running Time: 95-min. Intended Audience: Teens and above

DVD Alternative: It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. A non-stop laugh-a-thon as a group of motorists learn of a fortune buried 200 miles away. Besides all the visual and verbal gags, and its constellation of comic greats, Mad World also contains some of the best car chases and stunts ever filmed. (Hey, I know, it’s old and it doesn’t star Bow Wow, but it’s funny. Ain’t that what a comedy is supposed to be?)

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DEFINITIONS

Profanity – God’s name followed by a curse or the abusive use of Christ’s name

Obscenity – a swear word, indecent language

Expletive – minor curse words such as damn or hell