B*A*P*S (1997)

User Rating:

3.3/10   

Director:

Robert Townsend

Writer (WGA):

Troy Beyer (written by)

Release Date:

28 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

These Pretty Women... Are Clueless!

Plot:

Two tacky homegirls move to L.A. to become dancers; instead they scam a dying millionaire but eventually become B*A*P*S (Black American Princesses).

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Millionaire | Nephew | Urban Setting | Pygmalion

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Halle Berry	...	Nisi
Martin Landau	...	Mr. Donald Blakemore
Ian Richardson	...	Manley
Natalie Desselle	...	Mickey
Troy Beyer	...	Tracy Shaw
Luigi Amodeo	...	Antonio
Jonathan Fried	...	Isaac
Pierre Edwards	...	Ali (as Pierre)
Anthony Johnson	...	James (as A.J. Johnson)
Bernie Mac	...	Mr. Johnson
Darrel Heath	...	Terrance
Vince Cooke	...	Z.Z.
Faizon Love	...	Tiger J
Rudy Ray Moore	...	Nate
Darrow Igus	...	Bartender

Also Known As:

B.A.P.S.

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.

Runtime:

91 min | USA:92 min (Encore print)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:L | Germany:12 | Italy:T | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34665) | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

New Line Cinema

Goofs:

Continuity: Toilet seat position in bathroom

Quotes:

Mickey: Lead the way Alfred.
Manley: The name is Manly, Manly will do very nicely thank you!... Who's Alfred?
Mickey: You know, Batman's homeboy!
Nisi: Oh Mick, now I see what-chu was sayin'.
Mickey: You would be so good in the sequel.
Nisi: Snap! He'd be phat!
Mickey: He would! All you gotta say is, "Batman to da cave!" and everybody lose they job that day... and you get THAT job. *Heavy Chuckle* TO THA CAAAAAAAVE.
Nisi: Ask him to say it Mick!
Mickey: Nah, I already done called the man "Alfred."
Nisi: Oh come on.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

Get Your Groove On

A delightful Cinderella story!

I enjoyed this story about 2 girls with not a lot of class. I'm a woman of color and could appreciate where the ladies were coming from. The characterizations represented the tackier side but I still enjoyed the performances and outcome. What the characters lacked in worldly knowledge, they demonstrated with their heart and compassion for the man portrayed by Martin Landau. I took it as a modern day rags-to-riches story and I'm glad Robert Townsend gave us B.A.P.S. Some may have been insulted but I viewed the story without shame or indignation. Life shouldn't be taken so seriously that you can't find the humorous side of your own people.