Cast: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Ralph E. Tresvant, Nicole Ari Parker, Boris Kodjoe, Queen Latifah
Director: Rick Famuyiwa
Producer: Peter Heller
Screenplay: Michael Elliot and Rick Famuyiwa
Cinematography: Enrique Chediak
U.S. Distributor: Fox Searchlight
Those looking for a concise description of Brown Sugar could refer to it as the "African American When Harry Met Sally." After all, it is a romantic comedy that asks the popular movie question of whether a man and woman can be platonic friends without sex becoming an issue. Predictably, as was the case in the Billy Crystal/Meg Ryan pairing, the answer is no, but Rick Famuyiwa's feature deals with its subject matter in a tasteful, intelligent manner, rather than forcing us to endure every plot contrivance that the cliché-riddled genre can offer. And, what Brown Sugar lacks in originality, it makes up for in charm.
Music producer Dre (Taye Diggs) and magazine editor Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) have known each other since childhood, when they became friends as a result of their mutual love for hip-hop music. That love led both of them to their respective careers. Dre makes records and Sanaa reviews the music. Over the years, neither of them has seriously considered the other as a potential romantic partner, until something happens to upset the chemistry - Dre falls in love with the willowy Reese (Nicole Ari Parker), and decides to get married. Despite feigning delight, Sidney is less-than-happy with the prospect of her friend tying the knot, and, after she and Dre share a kiss on the night before his nuptials, he is left with his own doubts - doubts that are deepened when Sidney begins dating a star New Jersey Nets basketball player (Boris Kodjoe).
The backdrop of Brown Sugar is the world of hip-hop music, and rapper Mos Def has a role as an artist that Dre decides to back. The soundtrack is loaded with hip-hop numbers, and will prove to be a "must have" for fans. However, although hip-hop provides form, color, and a rather obvious metaphor (Dre and Sidney's love for music represents their love for one another), it is not Brown Sugar's focal point. The key to unlocking the film's enchantment is to uncover the unforced romance. We know how this is going to play out, but, as in any worthwhile comedy about love, the pleasure is derived not from the destination, but from the road taken to get there.
Lead actors Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan generate enough chemistry to ignite a few sparks. The two previously appeared together in The Best Man and The Wood (also directed by Famuyiwa). In Brown Sugar, they have no difficulty convincing the audience of their love for hip-hop and for each other, even though they consistently delude themselves about any feelings pertaining to the latter. The supporting cast is solid, with Queen Latifah stealing her share of scenes as Sidney's cousin and confidante.
Despite having an all-black cast, Brown Sugar is essentially color-blind. Or, to put it another way, the film's intrinsic appeal is not confined to African American audiences. There are undoubtedly some who will complain that Brown Sugar's screenplay has been homogenized for mass-market consumption, but it doesn't seem to me that there's anything wrong with making a movie that can attract both black and white viewers. And, if you want edgy, looking to a romantic comedy to provide it is ill-advised. Brown Sugar is undemanding fun capable of providing two hours of entertainment for anyone who enjoys a smart story with plenty of romantic tension.
© 2002 James Berardinelli