May 7–14, 1998

movie shorts

Woo

Woo (Jada Pinkett Smith, charismatic and deft as ever) is vivacious, seductive, independent, supercharged, intimidating. According to the rules of romantic comedy, she's bound to meet her male match, to fall in love, to be tamed. That match is a nice-guy law clerk (Tommy Davidson), who also has lessons to learn, namely, to stand up for himself and to loosen up (compared to his doggish homeboys—played by Darrel Heath, Michael Ralph, and Duane Martin—Davidson is appealingly sensitive from jump). Written by David C. Johnson (D.R.O.P. Squad) and directed by Daisy V.S. Mayer (Party Girl), the movie follows them on their first date, during which they wreak havoc in a swank restaurant and a few trendy dance spots (including a drag-queen club, where homeboys learn some lessons of their own). For all the generic plot gyrations, Pinkett Smith and Davidson turn in poised, resourceful performances. LL Cool J appears (as a serious player, no surprise), as does Foxy Brown (as a sexy diva-girl, no surprise), and the soundtrack is fine, with tracks by M.C. Lyte, Lost Boyz, Brownstone, Charli Baltimore, Chico DeBarge and Adina Howard.

-Cindy Fuchs