Brown Sugar

Year: 2002

Grade: C+

Country: USA

Director: Famuyiwa

Review

stock romance film in most ways – the ending, the type of romance, the archetypal characters, etc. it does, however, separate itself from the usual dreck in one very important way – the music. the film’s main characters both love hip-hop and this love of hip-hop becomes a major theme in the film. the soundtrack is peppered with classics (including three blackalicious cuts), the characters reminisce over the old-school greats and discuss their new school favorites. if the film were about two people who loved opera, rather than hip-hop, it would be a C- movie, but i like hip-hop more and could keep up with their conversations more easily so i found it more enjoyable. again, the film is very predictable and doesn’t offer much new material when it comes to the relationship between the two protagonists, but the inclusion of the hip-hop storyline made it enjoyable enough.