Black Coffee (FILM REVIEW)
Black Coffee
Film Review
by Kam Williams
Fired and Dumped Dude Finds Soul Mate on Rebound in Faith-Based Romantic Romp
Robert’s
(Darrin Dewitt Henson) whole world collapses the day he’s fired from the
business founded by his late father only to come home to an unsympathetic girlfriend
(Erica Hubbard) who has decided to dump him because he can’t afford to take
care of her. To add insult to injury, Mita drops the bomb that she’s been cheating
on him with Nate (Josh Ventura), the guy who just terminated him.
But the jilted
housepainter isn’t down in the dumps for long, since he soon crosses paths with
Morgan (Gabrielle Dennis), a gorgeous attorney he falls head-over-heels for at
first sight. The available divorcee happens to be moving into a drab office that’s
crying out for a makeover, a condition which conveniently dovetails with housepainter
Robert’s need for a job.
He closes
the deal by offering the “pretty woman discount,” so it looks like clear
sailing at first blush. Not so fast, Kimosabe, since the tired-and-true modus
operandi of the stock romantic comedy is to keep the leading man and woman
apart until the very end when they disappear into the sunset together.
Such is the
case with Black Coffee, a pleasant, if predictable affair written and directed
by Mark Harris (Black Butterfly). For, every time Robert and Morgan appear ready
to take the relationship to a deeper level, a monkey wrench is thrown into the
works, like the return of her ex-husband (Lamman Rucker) who wants to
reconcile.
Too bad much
of the dialogue strains credulity here, such as Morgan’s cruel
cross-examination of Robert when she asks whether he can read, why black people
always have to talk while they’re working, and whether he’s a man of God. Of
course, the perfect gentleman passes the test with flying colors, but isn’t
there a less antagonistic method for a sister to find her soul mate?
A pat, if unconvincing,
romantic romp determined to march inexorably to an implausible, happily ever
after finale, whether you like it or not.
Good (2 stars)
Rated PG
for mild epithets, sexual references and mature themes
Running time: 85 minutes
Distributor: RLJ
Entertainment
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