Movie Monday: Jumping the Broom

The next time you’re on Facebook, check out your friends’ Info page. I can almost bet you’ll find movies like “Love Jones”, “Love & Basketball” & “Best Man” on the list of their favorite movies. By the time you read this entry, they will have added Jumping the Broom to the list. It’s one of those movies you will want to see over and over again.
Read more and see photos below...

It’s the perfect mix of comedy and drama in the clash of two African American families from different worlds. You may recognize the director, Salim Akil, who along with his wife, Mara Brock Akil, brought you small screen favs like “The Game" and “Girlfriends”. 

I will admit those are still my favorite shows. I never missed an episode of “Girlfriends”, and I’m waiting on the return of the show. Maybe if I close my eyes, cross my fingers and wish for it really hard, it’ll happen. Don’t knock it. It worked for “The Game”. 

Anyway, if you haven’t guessed already, this is going to be a little biased. And it doesn’t help that Bishop T. D. Jakes’ production company, TDJ Enterprises, produced the movie. It’s the same production company that gave us another silver screen hit, “Not Easily Broken”, starring Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson. 

“Jumping the Broom” now joins the list of classic African American romances with another dynamic duo: Paula Patton (Sabrina) and Laz Alonso (Jason). The two literally meet by accident, fall in love and become engaged over a short period of time. They know they are meant to be together, but now they must get their families on board with the idea.

Alonso & Patton

I think it’s safe to say that Alonso and Patton were well on their way to being very good supporting actors, but I think their performances in this now top-ranked comedy, will lead to bigger roles. 

Laz is very believable as a man madly in love with his fiancée. He even played the mama’s boy role to a tee as the son of Loretta Devine’s character, Mrs. Taylor (Pam). Patton does a great job of being a bratty little rich girl and the daughter of Angela Bassett’s character, Mrs. Watson (Claudine). 

By the way, I was very happy to see Devine and Bassett back together again. If I’m not mistaken, their last movie together was “Waiting to Exhale”, which in doing some research; I found out finally has a sequel in the works for 2012.

Bassett and Devine bump heads throughout the whole movie, as overbearing mothers from different sides of the track or bridge, in this case. We see a lot of drama from these four characters. It’s a good thing there’s some comic relief movie. 

Devine & Bassett

Tasha Smith (Why Did I Get Married I & II), Mike Epps (Friday) and DeRay Davis keep us in stitches with one wisecrack after another. But to my surprise all three performances went against predictions I had made about them. I expected Smith’s character, Shonda (Pam’s best friend), to be loud and rude.  I just knew Epps’ Willie Earl, (Pam’s brother) and Davis’ Malcolm (Jason’s cousin) were going to provide all the slapstick comedy. 

Much to my surprise, none of that happened. I was particularly amazed by Epps’ performance. Not only did he step onto the scene looking very handsome, but also his character as the groom’s uncle was very mature and rational. 

 Mike Epps

He even had a profound moment in the movie after Mrs. Taylor made a scene during the rehearsal dinner. In her in blessing over the food, she called Sabrina’s family bougie and dogged them out pretty much just for being rich. The prayer sparked an argument between her and Mrs. Watson. In the next scene, Willie Earl in so many words, blasts her for coming into the Watson’s home and insulting them just because they’re rich black folk.

Epps & Devine

The statement that followed was so on point. Again, in so many words, he tells her that she should be enjoying this time in Martha’s Vineyard surrounding by good people; and that if she keeps fighting progress, she will find herself on the wrong side of history. 

That couldn’t be anymore true about the African American community. We feel that if a black person has money, then he/she undoubtedly believes they are better than other black people who do not have it. We don’t embrace it and try to find out how to get on that level. We’d rather hate and label them as bougie and stuck up. Forget the fact that they understand that diligence pays off, and that anything worth having is worth working hard to get. 

Jason says it best in a heated conversation with Malcolm, who’s convinced that Jason has forgotten where he came from. He says, “Money didn’t change me, it changed you!” 

DeRay Davis, Meagan Good & Paula Patton

Ok, ok. I’ve kicked my soapbox back under my desk. I just loved all the messages in this movie. It is more than a flick about a wedding and socio-economics. There are secrets and lies uncovered that almost end several relationships. You’ll find story lines about self-respect and abstinence; and for the more mature female crowd, there’s a lesson on embracing your inner cougar. 

That brings me to my next point. It ought to be a crime to have that much hotness in one movie! Pooch Hall (The Game), Gary Dourdan (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation/A Different World), and Romeo were a superb addition to the cast. I really didn’t even need the shirtless football game on the beach. That scene along is Oscar-worthy.

Jason gets injured in a game of football.

Gary Dourdan

 Hall plays Jason’s sidekick and best man, Ricky, who offers the polar opposite to Malcolm. If rich and poor represent morality, then they would be good and evil, pulling Jason is two different directions on the road between hood and high-class. They had a few scenes together, and each one was hilarious!

Davis & Hall

More comic relief came from the wedding coordinator, Amy (Julie Bowen/”Modern Family”), who as the only white person in the house, did things like play with Tasha’s kinky twists and make references to Sabrina being a few shades lighter than Mrs. Watson. It was kind of a hint to let the audience know there might be some skeletons in somebody’s closet. I won’t say what the big secret is. Let’s just say…there is closure…and…I may have shed a tear or two.

I can go on and on about this movie, but Lon says my review has turned into a critical essay. Therefore, I digress. If I can sum up “Jumping the Broom” in one sentence, I would say it is a refreshing and welcomed change from the African America movie norm.  
There’s something in this movie for everyone, no matter the color of your skin. 

Go out and see it, then come back and leave a comment to let me know your thoughts. As always, you can remain anonymous.