A Free Movie is a Free Movie
I was able to get free passes to see a preview screening of “Just Wright” starring Queen Latifah and Common today. This was after getting an email earlier in the week to get passes with a code that did not work. I just happened to check my email randomly earlier today and there was a new email, just a few hours before time to line up for the movie. I quickly rounded up my peeps and we went to the theater.
I had seen the trailer for this movie a while back, and I thought it might be worth seeing at least once. Queen Latifah alone usually makes movies enjoyable enough. I watch another one of her romantic comedy exploits, “Last Holiday,” repeatedly, so I figured that if “Just Wright” was anything like “Last Holiday,” then it would be fine.
Additionally, Pam Grier and Phylicia Rashad were cast as mothers of the stars in the movie. I will watch Pam Grier in just about anything, and I am happy to see her move into roles that seem appropriate for her current stage in life, which are a stark contrast to the kind of roles from thirty-five to forty years ago for which she is most well known. Thank goodness for “Jackie Brown,” another favorite of mine, and what it did for her career.
Sadly, I was sorely disappointed with “Just Wright.” The main issue with the movie is that there was absolutely no chemistry between Queen Latifah and Common. The movie cannot stand on two legs without that.
Additionally, while Common easily looks the part of a basketball player, his acting skills need refining overall. This is not the case for this movie only, but for any movie that I have seen in which Common plays a character. I think that he has potential, but he still has a lot of work to do. Add to that the fact that Pam Grier and Phylicia Rashad were completely wasted in this movie, and one may wonder if Just Wright is worthwhile movie to view at all.
However, there is one high point of the movie. Although I am not too familiar with any of his other work, James Pickens, Jr. was well cast in “Just Wright” as the father of Queen Latifah‘s character. While the chemistry between Queen Latifah and Common was nonexistent, there was a believable magic between James Pickens, Jr and Queen Latifah. Still, it is not enough to save this movie, especially since these father daughter interactions are a small part of the movie.
Alas, a free movie is a free movie, but I am really glad that I did not pay for it like I had planned to do. For those who were not lucky enough to get a free pass, I recommend just waiting for DVD. Better yet, you can watch the trailer. The whole movie is basically there.
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