Black Movie Review: Just Wright
I was gearing myself to dislike Just Wright. I’m from the school of people who thinks that all the great black romantic comedies – Jason’s Lyrics, Love Jones, Brown Sugar, Love and Basketball- have already been made. Those movies have captured our imagination like no other movies since and have made household names of Jada Pinkett, Nia Long, Larenz Tate and Sanaa Lathan. By contrast, Just Wright features Queen Latifah and rapper Common, best known for their musical skills than for their thespian qualities. Furthermore, Latifah seems a bit too old to be playing a single thirty-something woman and Common a tad too short to be convincing as a NBA player. It’s armed with all these preconceived ideas that I sat down to watch Just Wright, ready to be bored. And yet 10 minutes into the film, I was utterly charmed.
Queen Latifah plays Leslie Wright, a physical therapist who has a lot going on for her: a good job, a nice fixer-upper of a house that she’s just bought, supportive parents and a roommate: her childhood friend Morgan (Paula Patton) who dreams of being a trophy wife. By a twist of fate, Leslie gets to meet Scott McKnight (Common), the star of her favourite NBA basketball team. Charmed by Leslie’s friendliness and knowledge of the game, McKnight invites her to his house party. Leslie brings her friend Morgan along only to see her snap McKnight right under her nose. Fast forward a few months and McKnight has proposed to Morgan. Unfortunately the basketball star later injures his knee, an accident that jeopardizes both his career and his impending wedding. Jealous of the hot blonde hired as a physical therapist for Scott, Morgan replaces her with the homely and safe Leslie.
What happens after is a predictable game of will they / won’t they fall in love: Will Scott McKnight realizes that Morgan is nothing but a golddigger and that Leslie is the real thing? Will Leslie double cross her childhood friend and take what’s rightfully hers? I won’t spoil the movie by saying that the answer to these questions is a resounding yes. But what Just Wright lacks in originality it makes up for in characterization.
Unlike many romantic comedies female heroines, Leslie Wright is anything but desperate. The first scene of the movie, where we see her on a date, hints at a sadness of always being considered as “one of the guys”, the good girl you just want to be friends with. Leslie seems also resigned to play second fiddle to her gorgeous friend Morgan. And yet Leslie doesn’t let these disappointments get to her; her walk is confident and her outlook on life stays resolutely positive. Even the selfish and materialistic Morgan is an endearing character, ruthless in her quest for fame and money but not quite ready to sacrifice her friendship. Scott McKnight, the NBA player with a love for jazz and a good heart, is just a good guy temporarily blinded by Morgan’s beauty. The relationship between all three characters is deftly handled and established in revealing shots: tabloids and the glam life when Scott is with Morgan, meaningful conversations and moments of tenderness when he’s with Leslie. Latifah and Common show surprising chemistry, even if I would have liked Common to be a bit more expressive.
As a romantic comedy, Just Wright is not in the same league as say Love Jones, but it’s good, light-hearted entertainment. Let’s hope that director Sanaa Hamri (who also directed the cute interracial dating comedy Something New in 2006) and writer Michael Elliott (the screenwriter behind Brown Sugar) will be more adventurous next time and deliver an equally likeable film but with a bit more edge.
Just Wright is out in the UK on 17 September
Okay, so I maybe the only one who has not seen this film? A bit late, I know but I have been searching high and low to find a local cinema that is showing this movie, would love to watch it on the big screen as I am not ready to resort contacting the local DVD man! Any ideas I am in South London?
I loved this film, its delivers exactly what it says on the tin. Queen latifah isnt going to win any oscars for this role but she made it work and Common….OMG. it’s Common he doesn’t have to do much but stand there and look fine.
This is a good film to see with your girlfriends.
I loved it. Rom coms as a genre are generally quite weak so I’m prepared to be generous. It’s Commons first lead role and yes, it was a big ask for him. He had moments. Paula Patton was hilarious as the gold digging god sister as was the I can fix it Father who was reminiscent of cliff Huxtable. As for the romance, it works if you consider it from a “you fall for your best friend” genre as opposed to men choosing between looks and substance. I’ve seen it 8 times now and it makes me smiles and that’s all I ask of a movie.
@ Alica
Just thought I would add that another contributing factor to the popularity of films like Love Jones, Jasons Lyric, etc is that they came accompanied with brilliant music cd soundtracks.
I have just checked the trailer and saw that the cutie Laz Alonso is in the movie!!:-)
Great review Alice. I see we have the same thoughts on black romantic comedies (well except Jason’s Lyric. Not a favourite!).I think someone somewhere will one day recapture what made those films good.
I enjoyed Just Wright more than I expected. The only weak link was Common for me. I love him as a musician and he is eye candy but he has yet to convince me with his acting skills. A stronger male lead would have given this movie the finishing touch. Queen Latifah on the other hand did well. I loved her character’s positive energy.
I went along to the screening and thought what a great ‘positive’ film for people of colour. Especially since we here and see that people of coulour are not getting married any more. Also I like the idea they have taken a positive stand for women who are curvy and intelligent. Too many times the media likes to say that only women show are skinny/slender can get a decent man especially a high profile man.
Nice Review. I like Queen Latifah’s choice of roles, it’s good to see someone a little more leftfield playing the girl who gets the guy. (possibly).
Thanks for the tip Alice. Personally I thought ‘Love Jones’ and ‘Love and Basketball’ were pretty awful films. I haven’t seen ‘Jason’s Lyric’ and I’m not really inclined. I imagine ‘Just Wright’ will be more entertaining although I think I can wait for it to come on Digital to find out for myself. On verra…
Shalom x