Critic's Grade: A+

A romantic urban comedy that has style, wit, energy, humor, and everything needed to create an excellent film. And it's a treat for the old hip-hop fans taking you back to the old days.

Sidney (Sanaa Lathan- Disappearing Acts, Love and Basketball, The Best Man) and Dre (Taye Diggs- New Best Friend, The Wood, House on Haunted Hill) have been best friends since childhood. Now all grown up Dre is a successful A&R guy for a hit record label and Sidney is being promoted as a writer for the popular magazine XXL. Things seem to being good between the two until Dre proposes to his girlfriend Reese (Nicole Ari Parker- Blue Streak, Divas, TV's Soul Food). For Sidney she becomes jealous but decides to remain friends. But telling her to follow her heart is Sidney's best friend (Queen Latifah- The Bone Collector, Set if Off) who is an expert in sex and relationship. After a year of marritale bliss Dre seems fine until a sexy basketball player (Boris Kodjoe- TV's Soul Food) comes along and proposes to Sidney. Now both in serious relationships, Sidney and Dre must come to terms with their relationship or remain just friends.

Co-starring are Wendell Pierce and hip hop rapper Mos Def (Carmen: Hip Hopera). Also look for camero appearances by some of today's most popular urban acts including Fabolous, KRS One, Angie Martinez, and music pioneer Russell Simmons.

Filled with urban beats that will make you want to get up and dance. The film itself is a charming, romantic, and very entertaining movie that is well-directed and has strong performances by it's main characters. Althought the film is filled with black actors, the film appeals to everyone of all ages and races. I saw the film and I must admit I was surprised when I saw how many whites and other races were driven to see this film.

Many of the jokes used in the film are sweet but sometimes overdone. Some people may say the movie closely resembles the 2000 urban hit "Love and Basketball" which also starred Lathan but it isn't actually. Praised by critics, the film begins in 1984 and goes from then to today. Many old hip-hop songs that people haven't heard in years are relived and brought back for the film.

The film has a couple of weak moments to it but it's performances by Queen Latifah and Mos Def make up for it. Some of the weak moments and predictable things that happen include Sidney and Dre making out the night before his wedding, but when Sidney says stop you already can tell how it's gonna put a strain on their relationship. You also can tell from the beginning that the two have a special chemsitry because in a certain scene when Reese is being asked questions about Dre, she seems to get them wrong and Sidney gets them right.

Taye Diggs returns as the leading man and delivers and outstanding performance. His character is loosely based and at sometimes seem wrong about things but he really does a great job.

Sanaa Lathan who brings every character she plays to live is strong and powered as Sidney and she really does an excellent job. Her emotions, humor and chemistry when the other characters is right on point and she does great.

Even though his character is a main person the real scene stealers of the show just so happen to be Mos Def and Queen Latifah who bring sex appeal and the most laughs to the film. Their performances were hilarious and everyone in the audience will laugh. If you don't laught at at least one of their jokes then you have no sense of humor.

So if you want to see a well written, casted, directed and just amazing romantic comedy then this is your film.

Out of a possible 4 stars, this film deserves 3 stars.

All Reviews by James Edwards
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