Baby Boy [UMD for PSP]

I saw this movie when it was released and not again till last night. I was a fan of John Singleton's work and understood from interviews that his movies up to this point were his own "triology" of Black male life experiences in South Central L.A. This movie touched on a lot of ills in the Black community but didn't offer solutions tied up in a bow at the movie's end so to me it is an episodic few weeks in the life of one character, Jody aka "Baby Boy".

After my second viewing this isn't a movie that I'd add to my favorite list or that I want to see in entirety again though I would probably watch my favorite scenes from time to time. The pacing of the movie seems uneven to me especially after the Snoop character "Rodney" bogarts his way into Yvette's apartment after his release from jail during the final third of the movie. Clearly the character was only introduced to add tension to the story but I wonder how it would've turned out if Singleton had just focused on what might have caused Jody to grow up and be a man and real father to his children and left the gangster bs out.

Like another reviewer, I was a little dismayed that education is not stressed as an option for Jody and his cousin P but as in real life, people only promote what they know which is why Jody's mom (AJ Johnson) stressed that he work but never suggested that he go to college.

I gave the disc 3 stars because I really enjoyed the special feature which I guess aired on Cinemax prior to the movie's release. I enjoyed all of the actors' comments regarding their characters and was surprised to hear Singleton state that he'd written this script for Tupac Shakur. Once I heard that statement, I couldn't help but think about how different this movie would have been had he lived to portray this character...Tyrese was good in the role but Tupac would have been magnificent I believe. There is also excellent chemistry between the cast so their performances are stronger & more believable - especially Tyrese/Ving Rhames and Tyrese/ Taraji P. Henson.

John Singleton's baby Boy attempt to make a comment on the state of young black men in Los Angeles. However this irresponsible movie tends to glorify the irresponsible behavior of its male characters instead of explaining the reasons why Black men have such a hard time becoming responsible providers in their communities. Underneath all the violence, foul language and graphic sex of this film is the same disjointed writing, clumsy acting, unfocused direction and poor editing that is prominent in every John Singleton film. Why do they keep letting this guy direct movies?

Baby Boy follows the story of Jody, a 20-year-old black man who still lives with his mother. Sadly his chicken headed mother acts more like a sister than his mom. Jody has two girlfriends, and has two babies by them. He has no way to support himself and has no reason to. Mommy takes care of him and his baby mammas take care of the kids. She's trying to move on with her life doing gardening and a new man, an ex-con with two strikes against him. He's trying to start a business twenty years too late. Jody spends his days hanging out with an unbalanced homie P or driving around town in his baby mama's car. Most times Jody and the young men in this movie have no goals, no dreams, and no aspirations outside of getting drunk or high. Singleton's picture of young Black men in America is heavily distorted, full of stereotypes .

Pressured by his woman, Baby Boy starts selling stolen clothes out of the trunk of her car, and in beauty salons. She starts to get jealous when she sees him flirting with his attractive female customers. But Jody perseveres to the point where he does well for himself. Baby Boy's Mama's Man gives Jody some good advice, but Jody refuses to listen cause he doesn't like the thug who has more wisdom and experience than he does. Hello Pot? This is Kettle. You're black.

Jody starts blowing on worthless stuff like money on rims and clothes. A girl at baby mama's work starts noticing Jody and this is where the film starts losing its perspective. We get long scenes where his insecure baby mama gives him drama about cheating, and mixed signals about their relationship. The movie starts to completely fall apart when Snoop Dogg hits the screen. After a fight turns into domestic violence, Baby Boy abandons his family. Snoop fresh off parole moves himself and his pot-smoking homeboys in. After an attempted rape in front of Jody's son him and his pot smoking homies have it in for Jody. They plan a drive by which miraculously misses Jody. Later that night Jody and his mentally unstable friend plan a hit on Snoop to protect his family. The two men eventually murder Snoop. A terrified Jody returns to Mama's house and Her man helps him gets rid of the evidence. One irresponsible act leads to another irresponsible act and that puts Jody on the right track to responsible behavior. Nice message Singleton.

Baby Boy is solid in the first half, and starts to lose focus and perspective after that. The second Baby mama from the middle class neighborhood disappears after the hour mark. I never get the sense that Jody has learned his lesson despite the idealized happy ending. One thing that irked me was that there was no mention of education in this movie. Education is the most powerful tool out of poverty yet Singleton never plays it up in this movie. Also, he never explores the roots of this irresponsible behavior among black men: the long-term psychological effects of institutional racism in the black community. The Omar Gooding character who was becoming more and more mentally unbalanced and violent due to the effects of this discrimination seems to just change for the better after a baptism. I don't buy it just like I don't buy the characters in this movie have changed at all from their experiences.

Despite Singelton's unfocused direction and clunky writing, the cinematography in this movie is solid portraying the ghetto as a place that is stagnant in a world that is constantly progressing. Tyrese is Okay as Jody. He starts off weak, but gets better as the movie progresses. Ving Rhames gives a solid performance as the ex-con. Omar Gooding steals the movie with his chilling portrayal of a man about to lose his mind. Snoop Dogg is himself playing an evil gangsta without a soul.

Baby Boy is worth a rental at best. Pick this up with Hollywood Shuffle for some nice contrast.

This is one of my favorite movies. Tyrese plays the character "Jody" so well and he's so sexy while doing it. Taraji P. Henson is one of my favorite actresses as well and she does a good job at playing "Yvette." This movie takes you through life in the hood and a young male struggling on his journey to manhood.

i think alot of women out there can relate to tyrese's character jody and what he put his mother and his girl through.

John Singleton is a director that has brought us great movies that are typically based on the life of a young African American facing some sort of struggle. This, to some may seem very clichéd and in a sense it is. John Singleton gives us the stereotypical Afro American in LA setting. This is something we see a lot in "Keeping it real" black movies, and simply a lot of young Afro-Americans will tell you that life in these areas is simply not like it's depicted. With the cliché this film does give us a true image of what every person faces in their lives and that's the transition into adulthood when we must all leave the family nest and take flight by ourselves.

Jody is a young African American man who still lives with his mother and her new lover in LA. Jody has a son and daughter to two different women and instead of growing up and becoming a responsible adult, he still remains un-employed and scared to leave home. Jody is a man who desperately wants to turn his life around and become the responsible father that he never had, but can't get over the fear of leaving his mothers nest and flying on his own.

The cast of Ving Rhames, Tyrese Gibson, Taraji P. Henson and A.J. Johnson really make this movie blend well. There are, however some real stereotyping issues that must be discussed to really give a fair and honest portrayal of this movie. There are quite a few stereotypes in this movie that I think all will agree should not really take place in this movie if it was an attempt to give a real depiction of Afro-American life. The black kid without a Dad, the abusive boyfriend slaps around his girl yet she stays with him, the black guy who has more than one girlfriend and a child that he doesn't really care about. These are all typical African American stereotypes that I just feel if John Singleton really set out to make a serious movie then these weren't really necessary. I mentioned that this movie touches on something that we all face in our lifetime, and that's true, we all face the time when we must leave home and start a nest of our own. Some find it easier than others and this film displays someone who really can't get the courage to get out there on his own.

It is something we've seen a thousand times before and is something we will see a thousand times more, the only real triumph of this movie is the believability and chemistry of the cast. Buy it, but be warned, you've seen it all before.