While summer starts in June, things truly heat up in July, and that includes all the hot new drops on streamers. Amazon’s Prime Video has refreshed its slate of content with over 60 new movies, like Bradley Cooper’s “A Star Is Born” and the 1973 animated adaption of the children’s book “Charlotte’s Web.”
Prime Video kicks off the start of the month with Doug McHenry’s “Jason’s Lyric,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Little Nicky.”
Plus, if you’re a Reese Witherspoon fan, Prime Video sets you up with her very first film and her breakout role as Dani in “Man in the Moon.” And the entire “Legally Blonde” trilogy is also available, for those who bend and snap.
Prime Video is also giving watchers some ultimate film classics like “Free Willy,” ”Gladiator,” and “Dances With Wolves.”
Last but absolutely not least, Season 2 of “Good Omens” will land on...
Prime Video kicks off the start of the month with Doug McHenry’s “Jason’s Lyric,” “Father of the Bride,” and “Little Nicky.”
Plus, if you’re a Reese Witherspoon fan, Prime Video sets you up with her very first film and her breakout role as Dani in “Man in the Moon.” And the entire “Legally Blonde” trilogy is also available, for those who bend and snap.
Prime Video is also giving watchers some ultimate film classics like “Free Willy,” ”Gladiator,” and “Dances With Wolves.”
Last but absolutely not least, Season 2 of “Good Omens” will land on...
- 6/30/2023
- by Raquel "Rocky" Harris
- The Wrap
Warner Bros. is looking to produce another remake and this one will be one of the 1991 neo-noir gangster film New Jack City. The remake is being written by Snowfall actor and filmmaker Malcolm M. Mays.
The original film was directed by Mario Van Peebles and had a great cast that included Wesley Snipes, Ice-t, Chris Rock, Flavor Flav, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson and Peebles.
In case you’ve never seen the film, “Snipes played arrogant New York City drug lord Nino Brown during the 1980s crack epidemic. Ice-t portrayed Scotty Appleton, a detective who goes undercover in Nino’s gang, the Cash Money Brothers, to bring down the drug lord for taking the life of his mother. Rock was “Pookie” Benny Robinson, a former stick-up kid who becomes homeless and poor after Appleton shoots him in the ankle. Pookie becomes a crack addict and eventually a police informant and infiltrates the Cash Money Brothers.
The original film was directed by Mario Van Peebles and had a great cast that included Wesley Snipes, Ice-t, Chris Rock, Flavor Flav, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson and Peebles.
In case you’ve never seen the film, “Snipes played arrogant New York City drug lord Nino Brown during the 1980s crack epidemic. Ice-t portrayed Scotty Appleton, a detective who goes undercover in Nino’s gang, the Cash Money Brothers, to bring down the drug lord for taking the life of his mother. Rock was “Pookie” Benny Robinson, a former stick-up kid who becomes homeless and poor after Appleton shoots him in the ankle. Pookie becomes a crack addict and eventually a police informant and infiltrates the Cash Money Brothers.
- 9/25/2019
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
Exclusive: We are getting word from sources that Warner Bros is rebooting its 1991 neo-noir gangster film New Jack City, and that multi-hyphenate Snowfall actor and filmmaker Malcolm M. Mays is writing.
The original movie, directed by Mario Van Peebles and written by Thomas Lee Wright, boasted a star cast that included Wesley Snipes, Ice-t, Chris Rock, Flavor Flav, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson and Peebles. Snipes played arrogant New York City drug lord Nino Brown during the 1980s crack epidemic. Ice-t portrayed Scotty Appleton, a detective who goes undercover in Nino’s gang, the Cash Money Brothers, to bring down the drug lord for taking the life of his mother. Rock was “Pookie” Benny Robinson, a former stick-up kid who becomes homeless and poor after Appleton shoots him in the ankle. Pookie becomes a crack addict and eventually a police informant and infiltrates the Cash Money Brothers.
New Jack City, made...
The original movie, directed by Mario Van Peebles and written by Thomas Lee Wright, boasted a star cast that included Wesley Snipes, Ice-t, Chris Rock, Flavor Flav, Allen Payne, Judd Nelson and Peebles. Snipes played arrogant New York City drug lord Nino Brown during the 1980s crack epidemic. Ice-t portrayed Scotty Appleton, a detective who goes undercover in Nino’s gang, the Cash Money Brothers, to bring down the drug lord for taking the life of his mother. Rock was “Pookie” Benny Robinson, a former stick-up kid who becomes homeless and poor after Appleton shoots him in the ankle. Pookie becomes a crack addict and eventually a police informant and infiltrates the Cash Money Brothers.
New Jack City, made...
- 9/23/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The heroin, cocaine and alcohol overdose that killed reality TV personality Lyric McHenry in August was an accident, the New York City medical examiner’s office has ruled.
McHenry, the daughter of New Jack City producer Doug McHenry, was last seen by friends leaving her 26th birthday party in Manhattan hours before her lifeless body was found on a Bronx street during the early morning hours of August 14.
McHenry produced and appeared in E!’s one-season show Ej NYC starring Magic Johnson’s son Ej Johnson.
New York police made one arrest in the case, but the charges — tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse — suggest whatever foul play occurred happened after McHenry’s death, not before. Police arrested Alexis Mejia-Ramirez, 29, of the Bronx on October 15, though the arrest was not announced at the time. Mejia-Ramirez was released last Saturday on $1,500 bail.
Mejia-Ramirez and two other men...
McHenry, the daughter of New Jack City producer Doug McHenry, was last seen by friends leaving her 26th birthday party in Manhattan hours before her lifeless body was found on a Bronx street during the early morning hours of August 14.
McHenry produced and appeared in E!’s one-season show Ej NYC starring Magic Johnson’s son Ej Johnson.
New York police made one arrest in the case, but the charges — tampering with physical evidence and concealment of a human corpse — suggest whatever foul play occurred happened after McHenry’s death, not before. Police arrested Alexis Mejia-Ramirez, 29, of the Bronx on October 15, though the arrest was not announced at the time. Mejia-Ramirez was released last Saturday on $1,500 bail.
Mejia-Ramirez and two other men...
- 11/1/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The world lost a talented producer and YouTube activist when 26-year-old Lyric McHenry was found dead in the Bronx, NY on Aug. 14, but Rich Kids of Beverly Hills star Ej Johnson lost something even more precious: a lifelong friend. His father Magic Johnson honored Lyric one day after her funeral on Sept. 5 with a devastating tweet. "Yesterday was a difficult day as we laid to rest Lyric McHenry, a daughter to Cookie and I and best friend to Ej," he wrote. "We've known Lyric since she was a baby and shared many lifelong memories with her and her family. We were blessed to witness her become a caring and brilliant young lady. Her talent was special and her potential limitless. She will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace." Yesterday was a difficult day as we laid to rest Lyric McHenry, a daughter to Cookie and I and best friend to Ej.
- 9/7/2018
- by Emy LaCroix
- Life and Style
Reality star Lyric McHenry was found dead on Tuesday in New York City, according to a law enforcement report obtained by CNN. She was 26.
A statement from the New York Police Department described that a “26-year-old woman was found early Tuesday morning unconscious and unresponsive, lying on the sidewalk in the vicinity of Undercliff Avenue and Boscobel Place, within the confines of the 44 Precinct.”
There were “no obvious signs of trauma observed,” the statement continued. “Ems responded to the location and transported the aided female to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.”
According to the New York Times, police found her partly clothed with a bag of cocaine nearby. The investigation is ongoing and the cause of death is pending from the medical examiner.
McHenry was longtime friends with Ej Johnson, Magic Johnson’s son. They first appeared together on E! Network series “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills...
A statement from the New York Police Department described that a “26-year-old woman was found early Tuesday morning unconscious and unresponsive, lying on the sidewalk in the vicinity of Undercliff Avenue and Boscobel Place, within the confines of the 44 Precinct.”
There were “no obvious signs of trauma observed,” the statement continued. “Ems responded to the location and transported the aided female to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.”
According to the New York Times, police found her partly clothed with a bag of cocaine nearby. The investigation is ongoing and the cause of death is pending from the medical examiner.
McHenry was longtime friends with Ej Johnson, Magic Johnson’s son. They first appeared together on E! Network series “Rich Kids of Beverly Hills...
- 8/16/2018
- by Tara Bitran
- Variety Film + TV
The family of reality TV personality Lyric McHenry, who died Tuesday at age 26, has asked that “all speculation surrounding the circumstances of death cease until the real facts are determined during the current investigation by the NYPD and the City of New York.”
A statement issued on behalf of the family added, “Despite the speculation in earlier reports, at this point in time the cause of Lyric’s death has yet to be determined.”
The statement said that McHenry, who appeared on the short-lived E! reality show “Ejnyc,” was ” a brilliant, creative and lovely young woman who shared a deep passion for writing, film and a long-standing commitment to social justice. She was a Christian who grew up in Los Angeles and attended the Center for Early Education and graduated from the Marlborough School in Los Angeles.”
Also Read: James 'Lb' Bonner, 'My 600-Lb Life' Star, Dies at 30
The statement added that,...
A statement issued on behalf of the family added, “Despite the speculation in earlier reports, at this point in time the cause of Lyric’s death has yet to be determined.”
The statement said that McHenry, who appeared on the short-lived E! reality show “Ejnyc,” was ” a brilliant, creative and lovely young woman who shared a deep passion for writing, film and a long-standing commitment to social justice. She was a Christian who grew up in Los Angeles and attended the Center for Early Education and graduated from the Marlborough School in Los Angeles.”
Also Read: James 'Lb' Bonner, 'My 600-Lb Life' Star, Dies at 30
The statement added that,...
- 8/15/2018
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
The family of Lyric McHenry, the reality TV personality found dead yesterday on a Bronx street, says reports of a drug overdose as the cause of death have not been verified.
“Despite the speculation in earlier reports,” the McHenry family said in a statement, “at this point in time the cause of Lyric’s death has yet to be determined.”
McHenry, who produced and appeared in E!’s one-season show Ej NYC starring Magic Johnson’s son Ej Johnson, was the daughter of producer Doug McHenry.
The New York Daily News reported yesterday that the 26-year-old Lyric McHenry was found dead on the sidewalk in the Bronx above the Major Deegan Expressway at about 5 a.m. According to the Daily News, the pregnant McHenry was only partially clothed and was in possession of cocaine, leading police to suspect a drug overdose and investigating whether she...
“Despite the speculation in earlier reports,” the McHenry family said in a statement, “at this point in time the cause of Lyric’s death has yet to be determined.”
McHenry, who produced and appeared in E!’s one-season show Ej NYC starring Magic Johnson’s son Ej Johnson, was the daughter of producer Doug McHenry.
The New York Daily News reported yesterday that the 26-year-old Lyric McHenry was found dead on the sidewalk in the Bronx above the Major Deegan Expressway at about 5 a.m. According to the Daily News, the pregnant McHenry was only partially clothed and was in possession of cocaine, leading police to suspect a drug overdose and investigating whether she...
- 8/15/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
This is just too tragic. Lyric McHenry, a 26-year-old YouTuber known for her political activism and woke videos, was reportedly found dead in the Bronx, NY on Aug. 14, according to the New York Daily News. The web star was allegedly found half-naked with no pants, and had a ziplock bag filled with cocaine on her person. Police are investigating whether she was dumped on the side of the road after overdosing. She was allegedly 20 weeks pregnant, according to authorities. "On Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at approximately 0505 hours, police encountered a 26-year-old female, unconscious and unresponsive, lying on the sidewalk in the vicinity of Undercliff Avenue and Boscobel Place," NYPD told In Touch. "There were no obvious signs of trauma observed. Ems responded to the location and transported the aided female to Bronx Lebanon Hospital, where she was pronounced deceased. The Medical Examiner will determine the cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.
- 8/14/2018
- by Emy LaCroix
- In Touch Weekly
At the dawn of the Black Hollywood Renaissance of the '90s, the sodality of filmmakers like Spike Lee, F. Gary Gray, The Hudlin Brothers, Bill Duke, Stan Lathan, John Singleton, The Hughes Brothers, George Jackson, Doug McHenry, Mario Van Peebles, Robert Townsend, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Kevin Hooks, Fred "Fab Five Freddy" Braithwaite, Charles Stone III, Nelson George and this writer, to name a few, felt like the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. We - like Rossetti, Millais, and Hunt at the height of their artistic revolt in the U.K. during the late 1800s - were cinematic reformers, rejecting the cartoonish mythos of African American life, as depicted in the Black...
- 6/1/2012
- by Barry Michael Cooper
- ShadowAndAct
The India pavilion at Festival de Cannes organized by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) will be inaugurated on Thursday, 13th May 2010. Secretary, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, Raghu Menon will inaugurate the official pavilion in the presence of other dignitaries.
The Indian Pavilion will run at the 63rd Cannes Film festival scheduled from 13-24 May, 2010 in France. The theme for the pavilion this year is "India: destination of Creative & Production Out-sourcing" and "India: emerging global capital of Animation & Special-effect".
India Pavilion will also host workshops on subjects like visual Co- Production Agreements, Ipr & Copyright Regime, Iffi Goa, India: The Emerging Animation Hub, Digital Platforms, Required Cinemas and Parallel Cinema.
There will be talk on Contribution of Mrinal Sen to World Cinema for which the panelists will be Mrinal Sen, Eminent Director and Producer, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Representatives,...
The Indian Pavilion will run at the 63rd Cannes Film festival scheduled from 13-24 May, 2010 in France. The theme for the pavilion this year is "India: destination of Creative & Production Out-sourcing" and "India: emerging global capital of Animation & Special-effect".
India Pavilion will also host workshops on subjects like visual Co- Production Agreements, Ipr & Copyright Regime, Iffi Goa, India: The Emerging Animation Hub, Digital Platforms, Required Cinemas and Parallel Cinema.
There will be talk on Contribution of Mrinal Sen to World Cinema for which the panelists will be Mrinal Sen, Eminent Director and Producer, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Representatives,...
- 5/3/2010
- by NewsDesk
- DearCinema.com
Bollywood actress and model Mallika Sherawat (Murder) has bagged a role in Hollywood political-comedy “Love, Barack”, whose tagline is “Politics has never been this sexy”. Sherawat, 33, will play “Aretha Gupta” opposite “Avatar” star Laz Alonso in this movie directed by Doug McHenry (Keep the Faith, Baby) and written by Gary Goldstein (The Wish List). Story revolves around romance between a beautiful and idealistic Barack Obama volunteer coordinator and her sexy and savvy conservative Republican counterpart during last United States Presidential election. Other cast of this movie to be...
- 2/9/2010
- Bollywoodmantra.com
Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar co-star Laz Alonso in the feature Love, Barack, a political romantic comedy set during the frantic and intoxicating days leading up to 2008 U.S. Presidential election. Mallika will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope, change, and passionate debate, follows the romantic and political rollercoaster that develops when, the month before Election Day, Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome, dynamic African-American working for the local McCain office. On signing up for the film, Mallika said, "Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him." To be directed by Doug McHenry, the film will also feature acclaimed actress Ruby Dee (Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominee for 2007's American Gangster) and...
- 2/8/2010
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar co-star Laz Alonso in the feature Love, Barack, a political romantic comedy set during the frantic and intoxicating days leading up to 2008 U.S. Presidential election. Mallika will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope, change, and passionate debate, follows the romantic and political rollercoaster that develops when, the month before Election Day, Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome, dynamic African-American working for the local McCain office. On signing up for the film, Mallika said, "Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him." To be directed by Doug McHenry, the film will also feature acclaimed actress Ruby Dee (Best Supporting Actress Oscar Nominee for 2007's American Gangster) and...
- 2/8/2010
- by Bollywood Hungama News Network
- BollywoodHungama
Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar star, Laz Alonso in a political comedy, Love, Barack. The film is set during the frantic days leading up to the 2008 Us Presidential elections. Mallika will play the role of Democrat Aretha Gupta, a devoted Obama volunteer coordinator who unexpectedly falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), a handsome African-American working for the local McCain office.
The inspiration for the story comes from the numerous publicly-documented campaign romances that sprung up around during the Obama Presidential win. Experts have speculated that this resulted in an “Obama baby-boom”
"Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him," said Mallika in a statement.
The film will be directed by Doug McHenry and will also start Ruby Dee, Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine.
Mallika has previous made Hollywood news when she landed a small role in a Jackie Chan movie,...
The inspiration for the story comes from the numerous publicly-documented campaign romances that sprung up around during the Obama Presidential win. Experts have speculated that this resulted in an “Obama baby-boom”
"Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him," said Mallika in a statement.
The film will be directed by Doug McHenry and will also start Ruby Dee, Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine.
Mallika has previous made Hollywood news when she landed a small role in a Jackie Chan movie,...
- 2/4/2010
- Bollyspice
Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar star Laz Alonso in Love, Barack, her upcoming Hollywood flick, a political comedy. Sherawat, who plays the the character of Aretha Gupta, a devoted local Obama volunteer coordinator, said in a statement, “Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I’m very lucky to be working with him.” American filmmaker Doug McHenry is directing the film, which will show Democrat Aretha unexpectedly falling for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), working for the local McCain office a month before election day. The film also stars veteran actress Ruby Dee, comic actor Gerry Bednob and film ...
- 2/4/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
And you thought Oliver Stone’s W. wasted little time in addressing current political issues. Hardly over a year since his President Barack Obama’s inauguration, there’s already a fast-tracked movie based around his 2008 presidential campaign. Variety reports that Love, Barack is ready to roll, with its two leads, Laz Alonso (Miracle at St. Anna, Avatar) and Mallika Sherawat (a huge Bollywood star looking for worldwide exposure) in place. The politically-minded romantic comedy will be directed by New Jack City producer Doug McHenry, whose past directing efforts include 1991’s House Party 2 and 1994’s sporadically impressive Jason’s Lyric.
Love, Barack will see Sherawat playing a volunteer coordinator for Team Obama who falls head over heels for a John McCain-supoorting Republican go-getter (Alonso). Take a guess how it’ll all end.
Typically, this kind of project would elicit little more than yawns and indifference around these parts, but Love,...
Love, Barack will see Sherawat playing a volunteer coordinator for Team Obama who falls head over heels for a John McCain-supoorting Republican go-getter (Alonso). Take a guess how it’ll all end.
Typically, this kind of project would elicit little more than yawns and indifference around these parts, but Love,...
- 2/3/2010
- by Matt Barone
- ReelLoop.com
Feb 3, 2010: Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite ‘Avatar’ co-star Laz Alonso in the feature ‘Love, Barack’ a political romantic comedy set during the frantic and intoxicating days leading up to 2008 U.S. Presidential election. Doug McHenry (New Jack City) is directing the film. Los Angeles Times contributing writer Gary Goldstein wrote the script. Francis Kenny is director of photography.
Mallika Sherawat will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope,.
Mallika Sherawat will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope,.
- 2/3/2010
- by News
- RealBollywood.com
Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is continuing her Hollywood stint with Love, Barack - she has been cast opposite Avatar star Laz Alonso in the political comedy. "Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I'm very lucky to be working with him," said Mallika in a statement. American filmmaker Doug McHenry is directing the film where Mallika will play Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator. The story, a snapshot of a moment in time that was filled with hope, change, and passionate debate, follows the romantic and political roller-coaster. It shows that the month before election day, ...
- 2/3/2010
- Hindustan Times - Cinema
Bollywood star Mallika Sherawat will star alongside Laz Alonso ("Avatar") in the political romantic comedy "Love, Barack." Sherawat will play Aretha Gupta, an Obama volunteer coordinator in the run up to the 2008 presidential election. With just a month to go before election day, she falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), who works with the local John McCain office. Also cast are Ruby Dee, Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine. Doug McHenry ("New Jack City") will helm from a script by Gary Goldstein ("If You Only Knew"). Nuclear Mango' Govind Menon and William Keenan will produce along with Vikram Singh of Split Image Pictures.
- 2/3/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Bollywood star Mallika Sherawat will star alongside Laz Alonso ("Avatar") in the political romantic comedy "Love, Barack." Sherawat will play Aretha Gupta, an Obama volunteer coordinator in the run up to the 2008 presidential election. With just a month to go before election day, she falls for her Republican counterpart (Alonso), who works with the local John McCain office. Also cast are Ruby Dee, Gerry Bednob and Loretta Devine. Doug McHenry ("New Jack City") will helm from a script by Gary Goldstein ("If You Only Knew"). Nuclear Mango' Govind Menon and William Keenan will produce along with Vikram Singh of Split Image Pictures.
- 2/3/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
New Delhi, Feb 3 - Bollywood actress Mallika Sherawat is continuing her Hollywood stint with ‘Love, Barack’ - she has been cast opposite ‘Avatar’ star Laz Alonso in the political comedy.
‘Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I’m very lucky to be working with him,’ said Mallika in a statement.
American filmmaker Doug McHenry is directing the film where Mallika will play Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator..
‘Laz Alonso is a talented and exciting actor. I’m very lucky to be working with him,’ said Mallika in a statement.
American filmmaker Doug McHenry is directing the film where Mallika will play Aretha Gupta, a devoted, local Obama volunteer coordinator..
- 2/3/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Bollywood bombshell Mallika Sherawat has been cast opposite Avatar co-star Laz Alonso in the feature Love, Barack, a political romantic comedy set during the frantic and intoxicating days leading up to 2008 U.S. Presidential election. Doug McHenry (New Jack City) is directing the film. Los Angeles Times contributing writer Gary Goldstein wrote the script. Francis Kenny is Director of Photography. Mallika Sherawat will play the female lead and central character Aretha Gupta...
- 2/3/2010
- GlamSham
PARK CITY -- The clip-joint film franchise, so deservedly profitable with the hilarious "Barbershop", has hit a snag with "The Salon", the distaff flip side. Centering on a black woman's hair salon, this girl-talk comedy is a cut below its predecessors. Still, "The Salon" should curl some respectable, if not terrific, boxoffice business. As a DVD purchase, where a whole room can hoot 'n' holler and talk back to the antics, "The Salon" should be a stylish performer.
Starring Vivica A. Fox as the owner of an inner-city hair salon, the movie is constant drama, most of it of the lowbrow variety. There is, indeed, a kooky array of customers and clippers, including: the fat 'n' sassy, the gold-digger, the gay stylist, the player, the abused woman, the white girl and, for gel, a cute little boy. To boot, there's a sidewalk full of knuckleheads, including two hoochies, their pimp, an old coot, a wino and assorted slugs and thugs.
Everybody has issues and a flair for in-your-face expression. There is some hilarity and amusing attitude, but in general this comedy is blow 'n' dry clowning. The prototypical characters slam through predictable confrontations and stereotypical antics. Pushing everyone's hot button generates noisy if not exactly raucous interactions. Every now and then someone delivers a sermon: on interracial dating, Halle's Oscar, child rearing. None are as funny as Cedric the Entertainer's sharp gibes in "Barbershop".
In writer-director Mark Brown's generic scenario, the plot is like an updated beehive as Jenny (Fox) fights City Hall to save her shop from being turned into a municipal parking lot. City Hall in this formulaic case is personified by a handsome lawyer Darrin Dewitt Henson) who inspires Jenny to new entrepreneurial and personal heights.
The players are a well-selected batch, including most prominently Fox as the "mother of the shop." Garrett Morris delivers an amusingly squirrely cameo as an old coot from the rest home who likes to hang with the ladies.
Amped up in the broadest and oldest of comic styles, "The Salon" could use some comic attachments, namely some strands of real human fibers instead of its synthetic character creations.
The Salon
C4 Pictures
Credits:
Producers: Mark Brown, Carl Craig, Vivica A. Fox
Screenwriter/director: Mark Brown
Executive producer: David T. Otom
Co-executive producers: Doug McHenry, Derrick Lea
Co-producers: Zatella Beatty, Lita Richardson, Brent Odom
Director of photography: Brandon Trost
Casting: Joe Adams
Key hair stylist: Sharmaine Jenkins
Editor: Earl Watson
Sound mixer: Greg Cosh
Line producer: Phil Garnes
Cast:
Jenny: Vivica A. Fox
LaShaunna: Kym Whitley
Tami: Brooke Burns
Michael: Darrin Dewitt Henson
Bob: Greg Germann
Patrick: Terrence Howard
Brenda: Monica Calhoun
Ricky: Dondre Whitfield
Trina: Taral Hicks
D.D.: D'Angelo Wilson
Trey: Dabir Snell
Percy: Garrett Morris
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 92 minutes...
Starring Vivica A. Fox as the owner of an inner-city hair salon, the movie is constant drama, most of it of the lowbrow variety. There is, indeed, a kooky array of customers and clippers, including: the fat 'n' sassy, the gold-digger, the gay stylist, the player, the abused woman, the white girl and, for gel, a cute little boy. To boot, there's a sidewalk full of knuckleheads, including two hoochies, their pimp, an old coot, a wino and assorted slugs and thugs.
Everybody has issues and a flair for in-your-face expression. There is some hilarity and amusing attitude, but in general this comedy is blow 'n' dry clowning. The prototypical characters slam through predictable confrontations and stereotypical antics. Pushing everyone's hot button generates noisy if not exactly raucous interactions. Every now and then someone delivers a sermon: on interracial dating, Halle's Oscar, child rearing. None are as funny as Cedric the Entertainer's sharp gibes in "Barbershop".
In writer-director Mark Brown's generic scenario, the plot is like an updated beehive as Jenny (Fox) fights City Hall to save her shop from being turned into a municipal parking lot. City Hall in this formulaic case is personified by a handsome lawyer Darrin Dewitt Henson) who inspires Jenny to new entrepreneurial and personal heights.
The players are a well-selected batch, including most prominently Fox as the "mother of the shop." Garrett Morris delivers an amusingly squirrely cameo as an old coot from the rest home who likes to hang with the ladies.
Amped up in the broadest and oldest of comic styles, "The Salon" could use some comic attachments, namely some strands of real human fibers instead of its synthetic character creations.
The Salon
C4 Pictures
Credits:
Producers: Mark Brown, Carl Craig, Vivica A. Fox
Screenwriter/director: Mark Brown
Executive producer: David T. Otom
Co-executive producers: Doug McHenry, Derrick Lea
Co-producers: Zatella Beatty, Lita Richardson, Brent Odom
Director of photography: Brandon Trost
Casting: Joe Adams
Key hair stylist: Sharmaine Jenkins
Editor: Earl Watson
Sound mixer: Greg Cosh
Line producer: Phil Garnes
Cast:
Jenny: Vivica A. Fox
LaShaunna: Kym Whitley
Tami: Brooke Burns
Michael: Darrin Dewitt Henson
Bob: Greg Germann
Patrick: Terrence Howard
Brenda: Monica Calhoun
Ricky: Dondre Whitfield
Trina: Taral Hicks
D.D.: D'Angelo Wilson
Trey: Dabir Snell
Percy: Garrett Morris
No MPAA rating
Running time -- 92 minutes...
Despite its setting in the run-down wards on the outskirts of Houston, debut director Doug McHenry's contempo drama of good and bad black brothers has too many recycled elements (from "West Side Story" to "East of Eden") and plays the same old tragic tune of how hard it is to escape one's ghosts.
A Gramercy Pictures release, "Jason's Lyric" has stern, hard-working performances but few marketable assets beyond Forest Whitaker's supporting turn as a screwed-up Vietnam vet. Boxoffice should be fair to light and limited to the target audience in big cities.
The title refers to the lead character's salvation -- love in the arms of a woman by that name, who knows the score. But most of the film is consumed with the relationship of responsible, sensitive Jason (Allen Payne) and his wayward gangsta' brother Joshua (Bokeem Woodbine).
In flashbacks and voice-overs, the defining tragedy of their lives is relived -- drunken, out-of-control dad (Whitaker) is gunned down in the home by one of the two boys. The script's central conceit involves misleading the audience as to who pulled the trigger, saving that revelation for later, which gives the whole movie an unsatisfying melodramatic spin.
There's no suspense in watching ex-con Joshua return to his world of drug-dealing and petty crime, while Jason and mom (Suzzanne Douglas) only weakly protest. Similarly, after playing hard-to-catch the first few rounds, seen-it-all dreamer Lyric (Jada Pinkett) falls for Jason and the pair start making plans to get out.
Predictably, violence erupts and one of the lovers survives a nasty gunshot wound for the tidy ending. Distinguishable from a TV drama only by its routine R-rated nude scenes, blood-letting and spicy street lingo, the film does not even have the stylistic flourishes of last year's similarly disappointing "Sugar Hill".
Director McHenry's approach is wide-angled and straightforward, and early on the environment plays an important part in getting a handle on the characters. But McHenry fails to freshen up the predictable course of events.
JASON'S LYRIC
Gramercy Pictures
Jackson/McHenry Co. in association with Propaganda Films
A Doug McHenry film
Director Doug McHenry
Writer Bobby Smith Jr.
Producers Doug McHenry, George Jackson
Executive producers Suzanne Broderick, Clarance Avant
Director of photography Francis Kenny
Editor Andrew Mondshein
Production designer Simon Dobbin
Music Afrika and Matt Noble
Casting Jaki Brown-Karman, Kimberly Hardin
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Jason Alexander Allen Payne
Lyric Greer Jada Pinkett
Maddog Forest Whitaker
Joshua Alexander Bokeem Woodbine
Gloria Alexander Suzzanne Douglas
Alonzo Treach
Running time -- 118 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
A Gramercy Pictures release, "Jason's Lyric" has stern, hard-working performances but few marketable assets beyond Forest Whitaker's supporting turn as a screwed-up Vietnam vet. Boxoffice should be fair to light and limited to the target audience in big cities.
The title refers to the lead character's salvation -- love in the arms of a woman by that name, who knows the score. But most of the film is consumed with the relationship of responsible, sensitive Jason (Allen Payne) and his wayward gangsta' brother Joshua (Bokeem Woodbine).
In flashbacks and voice-overs, the defining tragedy of their lives is relived -- drunken, out-of-control dad (Whitaker) is gunned down in the home by one of the two boys. The script's central conceit involves misleading the audience as to who pulled the trigger, saving that revelation for later, which gives the whole movie an unsatisfying melodramatic spin.
There's no suspense in watching ex-con Joshua return to his world of drug-dealing and petty crime, while Jason and mom (Suzzanne Douglas) only weakly protest. Similarly, after playing hard-to-catch the first few rounds, seen-it-all dreamer Lyric (Jada Pinkett) falls for Jason and the pair start making plans to get out.
Predictably, violence erupts and one of the lovers survives a nasty gunshot wound for the tidy ending. Distinguishable from a TV drama only by its routine R-rated nude scenes, blood-letting and spicy street lingo, the film does not even have the stylistic flourishes of last year's similarly disappointing "Sugar Hill".
Director McHenry's approach is wide-angled and straightforward, and early on the environment plays an important part in getting a handle on the characters. But McHenry fails to freshen up the predictable course of events.
JASON'S LYRIC
Gramercy Pictures
Jackson/McHenry Co. in association with Propaganda Films
A Doug McHenry film
Director Doug McHenry
Writer Bobby Smith Jr.
Producers Doug McHenry, George Jackson
Executive producers Suzanne Broderick, Clarance Avant
Director of photography Francis Kenny
Editor Andrew Mondshein
Production designer Simon Dobbin
Music Afrika and Matt Noble
Casting Jaki Brown-Karman, Kimberly Hardin
Color/Stereo
Cast:
Jason Alexander Allen Payne
Lyric Greer Jada Pinkett
Maddog Forest Whitaker
Joshua Alexander Bokeem Woodbine
Gloria Alexander Suzzanne Douglas
Alonzo Treach
Running time -- 118 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 9/27/1994
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
A talented cast headed by the rap duo Kid 'N Play (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin) inject enough energy, charm and humor into ''House Party 2: The Pajama Jam!'' to insure a respectable showing at the boxoffice.
However, producers Doug McHenry and George Jackson have made an unimpressive directing debut, hobbling the film with uncertain comic rhythms, poorly shot musical numbers, and wanly realized supporting characters. Popular appeal will undoubtedly be held down as a result.
Largely a campus musical, the film focuses on the efforts of Kid (Reid) to enroll in college and survive his first rocky days there despite pleas from Play (Martin) to give up education for a music career. Play is conned by a beautiful music industry hustler (Iman) into lending her Kid's misplaced tuition check, and when she disappears, Kid, whose campus kitchen job cannot cover his expenses, is on the verge of being expelled.
The lead pair, along with their DJ Bilal (Martin Lawrence, the most consistently funny performer in the film) finally throw a huge, secret pajama party to raise the money.
This straightforward progression is weighted down by a number of slow-moving subplots. Kid's girlfriend Sidney (Tisha Campbell), also at school, comes under the influence of a feminist roommate, Zora (Queen Latifah), and, due to an implausible misunderstanding, breaks up with Kid.
Latifah, who makes only one brief rap, declaims a few feminist bromides, but these are undermined by the other moments in the film featuring salacious shots of female body parts. Both are in marked contrast to the easygoing, innocent sexuality of the first ''House Party.''
Similarly, the satirical jabs at black lifestyles and mores are broader and more stereotypical than in the original, and, like the sex, offset by somber and self-conscious preaching, this time by Georg Stanford Brown as an African-American studies teacher.
In general, the comedy scenes lack structure, a problem even worse in the musical sequences, when dancers' legs and arms are routinely cut off at the frame lines.
The trio of bullies played by performers Full Force (Paul Anthony George, Brian George, Lucien George) struggle but fail to reprise their comic impact, though newcomer Kamron, of the group Young Black Teenagers, adds some comic dash as Kid's roommate, a white kid who talks, walks and raps black. William Schallert, as a weirdo dean, contributes some light moments.
Despite the problems, Reid and Martin still maintain their appeal. Reid, in particular, is a sharp and responsive comic actor with an extraordinarily likeable personality. As long as one of them is onscreen, there is always something entertaining to watch.
The soundtrack, too, is sure to have wide appeal, the hip-hop songs tinged with just enough pop feel to cross over -- probably more than the film itself.
HOUSE PARTY 2: THE PAJAMA JAM!
New Line Cinema
A Jackson/McHenry Production
Producers-directors Doug McHenry, George Jackson
Writers Rusty Cundieff, Daryl G. Nickens
Based on characters created by Reginald Hudlin
Director of photography Francis Kenny
Editor Joel Goodman
Production designer Michelle Minch
Music Vassal Benford
Color/Dolby
Cast:
Kid Christopher Reid
Play Christopher Martin
Bilal Martin Lawrence
Sidney Tisha Campbell
Zora Queen Latifah
Jamal Kamron
Professor Sinclair Georg Stanford Brown
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
However, producers Doug McHenry and George Jackson have made an unimpressive directing debut, hobbling the film with uncertain comic rhythms, poorly shot musical numbers, and wanly realized supporting characters. Popular appeal will undoubtedly be held down as a result.
Largely a campus musical, the film focuses on the efforts of Kid (Reid) to enroll in college and survive his first rocky days there despite pleas from Play (Martin) to give up education for a music career. Play is conned by a beautiful music industry hustler (Iman) into lending her Kid's misplaced tuition check, and when she disappears, Kid, whose campus kitchen job cannot cover his expenses, is on the verge of being expelled.
The lead pair, along with their DJ Bilal (Martin Lawrence, the most consistently funny performer in the film) finally throw a huge, secret pajama party to raise the money.
This straightforward progression is weighted down by a number of slow-moving subplots. Kid's girlfriend Sidney (Tisha Campbell), also at school, comes under the influence of a feminist roommate, Zora (Queen Latifah), and, due to an implausible misunderstanding, breaks up with Kid.
Latifah, who makes only one brief rap, declaims a few feminist bromides, but these are undermined by the other moments in the film featuring salacious shots of female body parts. Both are in marked contrast to the easygoing, innocent sexuality of the first ''House Party.''
Similarly, the satirical jabs at black lifestyles and mores are broader and more stereotypical than in the original, and, like the sex, offset by somber and self-conscious preaching, this time by Georg Stanford Brown as an African-American studies teacher.
In general, the comedy scenes lack structure, a problem even worse in the musical sequences, when dancers' legs and arms are routinely cut off at the frame lines.
The trio of bullies played by performers Full Force (Paul Anthony George, Brian George, Lucien George) struggle but fail to reprise their comic impact, though newcomer Kamron, of the group Young Black Teenagers, adds some comic dash as Kid's roommate, a white kid who talks, walks and raps black. William Schallert, as a weirdo dean, contributes some light moments.
Despite the problems, Reid and Martin still maintain their appeal. Reid, in particular, is a sharp and responsive comic actor with an extraordinarily likeable personality. As long as one of them is onscreen, there is always something entertaining to watch.
The soundtrack, too, is sure to have wide appeal, the hip-hop songs tinged with just enough pop feel to cross over -- probably more than the film itself.
HOUSE PARTY 2: THE PAJAMA JAM!
New Line Cinema
A Jackson/McHenry Production
Producers-directors Doug McHenry, George Jackson
Writers Rusty Cundieff, Daryl G. Nickens
Based on characters created by Reginald Hudlin
Director of photography Francis Kenny
Editor Joel Goodman
Production designer Michelle Minch
Music Vassal Benford
Color/Dolby
Cast:
Kid Christopher Reid
Play Christopher Martin
Bilal Martin Lawrence
Sidney Tisha Campbell
Zora Queen Latifah
Jamal Kamron
Professor Sinclair Georg Stanford Brown
Running time -- 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
(c) The Hollywood Reporter...
- 10/23/1991
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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