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IMDbPro

B*A*P*S

  • 19971997
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,694
42
Halle Berry, Ian Richardson, and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
Home Video Trailer from New Line Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:28
1 Video
68 Photos
Comedy
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).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).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).
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
5.5K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
15,694
42
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writer
      • Troy Byer
    • Stars
      • Halle Berry
      • Natalie Desselle Reid
      • Martin Landau
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writer
      • Troy Byer
    • Stars
      • Halle Berry
      • Natalie Desselle Reid
      • Martin Landau
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
    • Awards
      • 2 nominations

    Videos1

    BAPS
    Trailer 2:28
    BAPS

    Photos68

    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry, Martin Landau, and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Martin Landau and Ian Richardson in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Martin Landau and Ian Richardson in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)
    Halle Berry, Ian Richardson, and Natalie Desselle Reid in B*A*P*S (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Halle Berry
    Halle Berry
    • Nisi
    Natalie Desselle Reid
    Natalie Desselle Reid
    • Mickey
    • (as Natalie Desselle)
    Martin Landau
    Martin Landau
    • Mr. Donald Blakemore
    Ian Richardson
    Ian Richardson
    • Manley
    Troy Byer
    Troy Byer
    • Tracy Shaw
    • (as Troy Beyer)
    Luigi Amodeo
    Luigi Amodeo
    • Antonio
    Jonathan Fried
    Jonathan Fried
    • Isaac
    Pierre Edwards
    • Ali
    • (as Pierre)
    Anthony Johnson
    Anthony Johnson
    • James
    • (as A.J. Johnson)
    Bernie Mac
    Bernie Mac
    • Mr. Johnson
    Darrel Heath
    Darrel Heath
    • Terrance
    Vincent Cook
    • Z.Z.
    Faizon Love
    Faizon Love
    • Tiger J
    Rudy Ray Moore
    Rudy Ray Moore
    • Nate
    Darrow Igus
    • Bartender
    Debra Wilson
    Debra Wilson
    • Flight Attendant
    Robin Van Sharner
    • Airline Passenger
    Jessica Page
    • Audition Dancer
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writer
      • Troy Byer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Halle Berry's first leading role in a comedy.
    • Goofs
      In the bar scene at the beginning of the movie, the clock stands still at 9:25 for about five minutes.
    • Quotes

      Nisi: You remember when we took those CPR classes?

      Mickey: Yeah - All the cute guys were in there.

      Nisi: Didn't you learn anything?

      Mickey: No... But I met James.

      Nisi: Shh... we gonna check his heart to see if it's still beating... Go on. Check it.

      Mickey: You check it.

      Nisi: You check it.

      Mickey: You check it...

      Nisi: YOU CHECK IT! It's on yo side!

      Mickey: [Mickey laid her head against Mr. B's neck to see if he was still alive] He's alive!

      Nisi: I'm going to bed!

      Mickey: Nisi? Nisi? Nisi!

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: The Devil's Own/Cats Don't Dance/B*A*P*S/The Sixth Man/The Eighth Day/The Substance of Fire (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      No One But You (The Macadocous Mix)
      (1997)

      Written by Veronica Vazquez (as Veronica Vasquez), Danny Mano & Sekou Aiken

      Performed by Veronica Vazquez featuring Craig Mack

      Courtesy of H.O.L.A. Records, L.L.C.

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    Dumb, dumb `comedy' that expects you to laugh whenever one of the black leads squeals....
    Nisi and Mickey travel into LA to audition for a music video as dancers. They fail the audition but are hired by a man to pose as the granddaughters of rich Mr Blakemore. However the man's son Isaac appears to have more in mind that just this as the two countrified, black princesses stumble their way around in a rich man's world.

    It's hard to believe – when watching Halle Berry collected the best actress Oscar in 2002 than only a few years earlier she was in a dog like this! The story is almost a black Pygmalion in it's rags to riches type setting. It's possible to see how it might have worked – but I'm afraid it didn't work at all. The story is unimportant if the laughs come fast and thick….however I barely smiled once. The level of comedy is aimed at an audience who laugh simply because a character talks like a guest on Jerry Springer, ie squealing and yelling `girrrrrrrl!' etc. The comedy never gets above this – it's tacky and silly.

    Backing this up is Berry and Desselle. Deselle is terrible – simply hamming up her `blackness' – it's amazing that black audiences are happy with stereotypes and caricatures like this. Berry tries but is poor, mainly due to the material but also because she isn't a tacky country ho! It's amazing that the makers of this film manage to make this classy lady look cheap and ugly by sticking her in gold teeth, cheap clothes and tacky personality. Landau is embarrassing – at times you can see him close his eyes and just thinking of his Ed Wood Oscar! The only one that comes off well is Richardson's Manley – although he is a white Jeffery (Fresh Prince). The list of black cameos (Rodman, Leon, LL Cool J, several MTV vee-jays) don't actual add interest other than to make you wonder how so many managed to get involved in this.

    Overall this is not so much bad as just plain embarrassing for all involved. It shows Berry's talent that she came out of this and managed to further her career. Zero laughs, zero interest – a million cringes, what a load of BAPS!
    helpful•11
    11
    • bob the moo
    • May 27, 2002

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 28, 1997 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Se upp Beverly Hills
    • Filming locations
      • Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • New Line Cinema
      • Island Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $7,246,735
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $2,742,679
      • Mar 30, 1997
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,338,279
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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