The Phoenix Network:
 
 
About  |  Advertise
Adult  |  Moonsigns  |  Band Guide  |  Blogs  |  In Pictures
 
Features  |  Reviews
FIND MOVIES
Movie List
Loading ...
or
Find Theaters and Movie Times
or
Search Movies
TheBest2011-1000x50

Something New

Rating: 2 stars
By BROOKE HOLGERSON  |  February 2, 2006
2.0 2.0 Stars
060203_Inside_somethingnew.jpgDirector Sanaa Hamri’s first feature doesn’t attempt something new so much as try to revive something old — it’s yet another romantic comedy with a twist. Sanaa Lathan’s Kenya is an uptight LA lawyer with a conservative firm. Then she meets Brian (Simon Baker), a laid-back landscaper; the twist is that she’s black and he’s white, and though he doesn’t see that as a problem, she does, fearing criticism from her friends and parents about her new boy toy. It’s good to see affluent black characters on screen (a subplot about the subtle racism at Kenya’s office is well handled), but the film doesn’t really have anything fresh to say about race relations in America, or about interracial couples. Their problems aren’t racial, they’re personal. According to Hamri, all they need do is break down preconceptions and be more understanding and the rest of the world will fall in line. That’s a nice idea but hardly a new one.
Related: , , , More more >
  Topics: Reviews , Entertainment, Movies, Racial Issues,  More more >
| More
Add Comment
HTML Prohibited

 Friends' Activity   Popular   Most Viewed 
[ 02/10 ]   Ben Monder + David Tronzo's Adventures in Sound  @ Johnny D's
[ 02/10 ]   "Elizabeth Bishop at 100"  @ Jacob Sleeper Auditorium
[ 02/10 ]   Lee Konitz + Dan Tepfer  @ Regattabar
ARTICLES BY BROOKE HOLGERSON
Share this entry with Delicious
  •   REVIEW: PAUL BLART: MALL COP  |  January 20, 2009
    If you find the sight of a grown man rolling around the mall on a Segway hilarious, this is the movie for you.
  •   TYLER PERRY’S THE FAMILY THAT PREYS  |  September 17, 2008
    The prolific Tyler Perry is at it again, offering subpar entertainment to audiences so starved for sustenance they’ll eat his cheese.
  •   THE ROCKER  |  August 20, 2008
    Rainn Wilson of The Office gets promoted to the big screen with this anemic comedy directed by The Full Monty helmer Peter Cattaneo.
  •   KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL  |  July 01, 2008
    Although her film has as much visual flair as an after-school special, director Patricia Rozema gives an appealing attention to period detail, and Breslin is sweet in her first starring role.
  •   REPRISE  |  May 21, 2008
    Trier captures the moment when the recklessness of youth gives way to adult responsibilities, and the way childhood friendships can fall apart when different paths are taken.

 See all articles by: BROOKE HOLGERSON

MOST POPULAR
RSS Feed of for the most popular articles
 Most Viewed   Most Emailed 



  |  Sign In  |  Register
 
thePhoenix.com:
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2011 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group