Review of Just Wright (2010) by Thomas W — 03 Sep 2010
Queen Latifah might be "just fine" in her role but actor/musician Common was "just wrong" in his. She plays Leslie Wright, a physical therapist who befriends an NBA Nets player named Scott McKnight (Common) who soon becomes injured in a game and whom she helps rehabilitate back to health.
Latifah (Chicago, The Bone Collector, Ice Age) has been good before -- and is good -- but there is nothing out-of-the-ordinary here with her performance or role (but she is watchable). Common (American Gangster, Wanted, Date Night), on the other hand, is just awful with a monotone line delivery who shows no sense(s) of emotions or feelings (he does cringe on the basketball court when initially injured and wences in pain a few times later .
.. but that is it). This is billed as a "romantic comedy" but it is is more of a drama with some romance thrown in (a few funny moments and a single character [her father cannot fix anything -- haha, right?] for comic relief doesn't make a movie a comedy).
Leslie is attracted to the guy (it is implied that she is always seen as a "friend" or "hang-out buddy" to men) but her slim "sister" (Paula Patton -- Precious, Hitch, Deja Vu) steals his eye.
Her sister (they were raised together but aren't blood sisters) is a manipulative social climber who has one thing in mind -- marriage. Ugh ... yes, one of those people. McKnight is an irritating character with priorites all messed up (although he talks about charity -- we never see any) and he can't EVER see what is going on under his nose.
Why Leslie would continue to pine for such a doofus is beyond me. Both characters have mothers in the film: Hers is a not-so-nice schemer who prefers one "daughter" to the next (Pam Grier looking a lot different than her days as Jackie Brown, Foxy Brown and Coffy) and his is a very nice, concerned watchdog (The Cosby's Phylicia Rashad).
Just Wright hits a few of the right notes; but a poor leading male hinders it and keeps it from being anything better than him. Finishing note: how many different ways can "That's what I'm talkin' about" be implied/said? Well, according to Just Wright, there is one and you hear it over and over again a few times.
That's so not what I'm talkin' about! Learn a few new words, high-paid screenplay writer!
This review of Just Wright (2010) was written by Thomas W on 03 Sep 2010.
Just Wright has generally received mixed reviews.
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