October 11, 2002

By Veronica Mixon

Brown Sugar is an incredibly sweet movie about two childhood friends who try to deny their mutual attraction. It's the latest in a series of romantic comedies featuring Black characters and the first film ode to Hip Hop.

When Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) talk about the streets, they fondly recall the neighborhood playground where the early legends of Hip Hop practiced their rhymes and had friendly jam sessions. The Hip Hop lifestyle expressed here is a groovy, gentle Black life of the last twenty-odd years where kids revved up their self-esteem instead of their anger. The two friends meet again in New York when Sidney leaves her writing job at the L. A. Times to become editor of a Hip Hop magazine.

Dre is an executive at big record company but he's not entirely happy because the slick corporate management has watered down the true nature of the music. In fact, he's been chasing a rapper, Chris (Mos Def) who refuses to take him seriously. Sidney's best friend, Francine (Queen Latifah Living Out Loud) suggests that she should explore a romantic relationship with Dre but she discovers it's a bit late because he's newly engaged to Reese (Nicole Ari Parker Showtime's "Soul Food"). So, Sidney begins to date football player, Kelby (Boris Kodjoe Love and Basketball). But Reese and Kelby are uncomfortable with the friendship of their respective lovers. In one incredibly powerful scene, Reese boxes with Sidney and expresses her anger with the gloves.

Director Rick Famuyiwa debut film, The Wood was well intentioned but stylistically awkward. He has matured as a filmmaker and Brown Sugar looks and feels good. Famuyiwa is one of the few African American filmmakers who enjoys showing that Black kids come from loving families and grow up to be good people who have problems like everyone else.

This is a simple loves story with an attractive black cast that is slowly building a repertoire of fine films. Sanaa Lathan, who starred in a similar film, "Love and Basketball" is a beautiful treasure. Hopefully, her appearance in The Best Man, Catfish and Bean Sauce and Blade is just the beginning of a long, long career. She has wonderful chemistry with Taye Diggs (How Stella Got Her Groove Back) and holds her own opposite Nicole Ari Parker, an exotic beauty in her own right. Parker has appeared in Remember the Titans, Boogie Nights and Showtime's' "Soul Food." Rapper turned actor, Mos Def gives a funny, poignant performance and continues to win audiences since appearing in Bamboozled and on Broadway in "Topdog/Underdog." Finally, I wished Queen Latifah's part was bigger because she's become a dependable actress who always surprises the audience.

Brown Sugar is a delightful, entertaining movie.