Sanaa Lathan is hot. Taye Diggs is hot. And they do have an onscreen chemistry that works. At first I wrote off this movie as another half-assed attempt by producers to make a movie with a mostly black cast that has the same appeal as something with Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock. But that's not going to happen anytime soon because movies like this are immediately label "black movies" and white people are not interested.
At first I was going to put this on my bad movie list but as I began writing I realized that this really is a good movie. I'm not ashamed at all to say that I like this movie, so it doesn't belong on that other list.
The cool thing about this movie is how the relationship between the two main characters mirrors the evolution of hip hop over the years. They both have a love for the music and it is clear that their friendship has roots in that mutual affection. But can that friendship blossom into something more? Can it grow and lead them in different directions? Can they take a chance on something that can become great? If hip hop can, why can't they?
The performances here are good, as I've come to expect from Lathan and Diggs. And I really enjoyed Mos Def's character, the cab-driving rapper who would rather do his own thing than sell out to a label that's only interested in gimmicks to make a buck.
This movie used to be on cable twice every day but I haven't seen it in a while so I guess I'll have to buy it now.