Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Gregory Nava

Writer (WGA):

Tina Andrews (written by)

Release Date:

28 August 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Music

Tagline:

The story of three very different women.....with one husband in common.

Plot:

In the mid-80s, three women (each with an attorney) arrive at the office of New York entertainment manager...

Plot Keywords:

Doo Wop | Money | Widow | Estate | Singer

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Halle Berry	...	Zola Taylor
Vivica A. Fox	...	Elizabeth 'Mickey' Waters
Lela Rochon	...	Emira Eagle
Larenz Tate	...	Frankie Lymon
Paul Mazursky	...	Morris Levy
Pamela Reed	...	Judge Lambrey
Alexis Cruz	...	Herman Santiago
David Barry Gray	...	Peter Markowitz
Miguel A. Núñez Jr.	...	Young Little Richard (as Miguel A. Nunez Jr.)
Clifton Powell	...	Lawrence Roberts
Lane Smith	...	Ezra Grahme
Ben Vereen	...	Richard Barrett
Paula Jai Parker	...	Paula King
Marcello Thedford	...	Drug Dealer
Norris Young	...	Jimmy

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

116 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Iceland:12 | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Jacksonville, Florida, USA

Company:

Rhino Films

Trivia:

When Tina Andrews wrote the original script, the part of Frankie Lymon was first offered to Michael Jackson.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mickey is telling her story about how she met Frankie, she attended a concert in which Frankie was to perform. When Frankie is out on stage singing, the microphone switches positions from the middle of the stage on a black square, to the middle of the stage on a white square, and then to the front of the stage on a white square.

Quotes:

Zola Taylor: Frankie just needed something different... *all* the time.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Los Angeles Plays Itself (2003)

Soundtrack:

Keep a Knockin

Very entertaining!

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is somewhat flawed and takes quite a lot of artistic liberties, but it's always fun to watch. Larenz Tate isn't entirely convincing as Frankie Lymon--I guess they just cast him because he's real short. The concert scenes and TV appearances where he sings are noticeably lip-synched and look pretty cheesy. But acting-wise Tate did a fine job. Obviously, they didn't really delve into his drug addiction, to keep with its light-hearted feel. So we don't get to experience the heavy drama of Lymon's short life. The actresses were good--Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox and Lela Rochon. Their performances were equally effective and amusing. The great Little Richard has some spirited cameos. He definitely brought the mood of the film to an all-time high. I just wish he could've been in it for longer than 10 minutes. The whole movie basically concentrates on the romantic-comedy portions of Lymon's life--some true, some fabricated. There were some dramatic moments, but they occur mostly towards the end. But I got a lot of laughs and the film just has a fitfully satisfying upbeat tone. Of course, I LOVED the music. I have to admit that was one of the main reasons I enjoyed it so much.

"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" is a moderately loose portrayal of Lymon's life, but it makes great entertainment.