Review of White Men Can't Jump (1992) by Jake G — 06 Oct 2009
I hadn't watched a sports movie for a while before WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP. I'd simply grown tired of the genre; movies heavy on cliches and "inspiration," but short on brains and plot.
JUMP is a shot in the arm, revitalizing the genre. The movie plays like a Spike Lee drama: full of tension between blacks and whites, and yet showing that sliver of hope for respect in a realistic way.
Snipes and Harrelson are good actors, and the dialogue is real-world. People use "fuck" and "shit" in the hood, and practically everywhere else, like bread and butter. This film is not afraid to explore the tensions and problems in that culture, and of black-white relationships.
But I'm detracting a good 30% of the rating for the end-length, a whopping two hours. After a while, the soap-operatics between Rosie and Woody get obnoxious. I mean, Rosie's character was well played and all, but her whiny, shrill voice starts to get annoying after a bit.
Grievances aside, WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP is in the front row in the sports- movie pantheon, as far as I'm concerned.
This review of White Men Can't Jump (1992) was written by Jake G on 06 Oct 2009.
White Men Can't Jump has generally received positive reviews.
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