Sunday, July 13, 2014

Sucka 4 Luv (FILM REVIEW)


Sucka 4 Luv
Film Review by Kam Williams

Philly Serves as Backdrop for Character-Driven Tale of Romance and Redemption

            Chris (Spank Horton) is a man with serious anger management issues. After getting fired for losing his temper on the job yet again, he makes his way to Rittenhouse Square where things quickly go from bad to worse. First, he proceeds to harass passersby ranging from a homeless panhandler to a guy handing out flyers to a DJ party.
He even upsets a little girl who approaches him for an autograph because she remembers his face from his appearance as a defendant in court on Judge Joe Brown’s TV show. All these scenes in the public park transpire in front of his girlfriend Sharon (Xavia Omega) just before he gets down on one knee to propose to her with an engagement ring purchased on layaway.
However, she rejects the rock out of a sincere concern about her beau’s becoming enraged at the drop of a hat. Then, she breaks off the relationship entirely, saying she’s willing to reconsider marriage only after he proves his sanity by going a whole month straight without throwing a tantrum.
Chris grudgingly agrees, but refuses to see a shrink because “I’m not crazy.” But what he didn’t bank on was Sharon’s testing his composure by entertaining the overtures of Tyson (Tyrone Miller), a dude she used to date back in college.
Will Chris be able to contain himself for 30 days? That is the question at the heart of Sucka 4 Luv, the third feature-length offering from Patrick Pierre (The City Is Mine). The movie represents a bit of a departure for the Haitian-American writer/director in terms of both setting (Philly as opposed to his adopted hometown of Trenton) and genre (lighthearted comedy as opposed to gritty urban drama).  
Here, with the help of a talented cast and crew, he successfully made a compelling, character-driven tale of romance and redemption on a modest budget. Accolades are especially in order for Spank Horton and Xavia Omega for carrying the production playing a couple of colorful lead characters who manage to generate oodles of screen chemistry.
            A rollicking romp providing proof positive that love, I mean luv, conquers all, even a hot head with a very short fuse!

Very Good (3 stars)
Unrated 
Running time: 84 minutes
Distributor: Pierre Films

To see a trailer for Sucka 4 Luv, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wq1Pxmn3NBI
  

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