it happens once in a while, a group of like-minded people who needed an editor get together and swoon over each other's lines, shots, you name it; starts off from a very shaky footing, i,e, lets do the vineyard, the yacht, we break into french, we are fabulously wealthy on and on and on, except like the wiz and ease on down the road we'll make everyone black instead of white; it gets worse with stilted dialog trying to find some meat on the bones of the non=starting plot; how many times can you here the son tell his mother that he loves her, respects her, honors her, reveres her (zzzzz) except she is threatened by the riches and yachts and breaking into french and starts wrecking things; the other part of this is how ridiculous it is for IMDb to ins is on 10 lines of copy; the plot isnn't worth it and has been covered already, and when a movie is this bad you really don't need line after line telling you why

Two worlds collide when compulsive, suave and resigned to solitude uptown girl Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) runs over an up-and-coming businessman deriving from Bronx Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso). The chance connection redefines them both and within a blink of an eye they have set a wedding date aiming to finalise their marriage. The biggest obstacle being the conflicting family backgrounds, which seem set to topple the marriage. Mr Watson (Brian Stokes Mitchell) and Mrs Watson (Angela Bassett) were born into riches and high class lifestyle, to the extent that despite her skin colour Mrs Watson stems from a family of former slave owners. Meanwhile the widow Mrs Taylor (Loretta Devine), a police clerk, is a possessive mother with very traditional standpoints and a dismissive attitude towards any foreign elements to her family. When family secrets are revealed and incompatible world views interact one weekend on Martha's Vineyard the wedding seems set to burn...It comes somewhat of a surprise that a romantic comedy with subtexts set in African-American culture seems to be such a novelty, exposing how limited the access of this key demographic has to cinema. Coming off as a black "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", it features rich cultural connotations, centred around the key plot of 'jumping the broom', a traditional form of entering into marriage, derived from the slavery period, when blacks were forbidden to formally marry, hence resorting to African customs. This beautiful and meaningful tradition has seemingly been ridiculed as backward by upper class African Americans (which I must say is a somewhat gut-wrenching self-degrading of their rich culture). And as such this conflict should and could have been the centre of focus for the plot, which unfortunately derails from the substantial comedy into more melodramatic subplots. With only a mildly funny comedic backdrop and the social issues mostly on a back-burner, hinted and then disregarded, the main causes for watching "Jumping the Broom" is the somewhat novel context and the absolutely wicked performances by both matrons: Devine and Bassett. Most other actors deal with the story with typical African-American over-exuberance, but the two queens are dastardly perfection as they summarily head towards total conflict.

"Jumping The Broom" is one of this year's latest romantic comedies. The movie revolves around a gorgeous, young couple played by Laz Alonso ("Stomp The Yard") and Paula Patton ( "Idlewild") who are planning on getting married. The couple remain in pre marital bliss until they bring their respective families together. Both families, one wealthy, the other working class meet for the first time at Martha's Vineyard which is where most of the drama and romantic interludes unfold. The movie consist of an all star cast which includes Loretta Devine as the meddlesome, overbearing, protective mother, Mike Epps as the funny uncle, Angela Bassett, as the beougie, materialistic mother of the bride, along with Tasha Smith (" Why Did I Get Married"?)and Valerie Pettiford (" Half &Half"). Overall, the film does have its entertaining moments. However, like most family/ romantic dramas, the plot is somewhat trite, i.e, hidden family secrets revealed, meddling soon-to be in laws, following family traditions and customs as well as deep rooted issues that test the strength and bond between the two main characters. Its great to see a movie that focuses on family unity and true love along with unfortunate circumstances that can tear a family apart, but still manage to bring them closer together. While there are some nice touches to the film, the ending is rather predictable and could've had a little more surprise to it. I give this movie a 7 out of 10.

I read a review the other day (of a different movie), with the headline: "Why are Christian-themed films so bland?" One answer given was that such films are marketed to audiences not looking for personal or religious challenge, but merely for affirmation of their values and beliefs. No tension = bland. While watching "Jumping the Broom", a lovely, beautifully-filmed gem produced by Bishop T.D. Jakes, a second reality came to me: Most religious-themed films are marketed mainly to white people! As an Black American married to a white person, I don't say that to be mean or racist. Rather, I mean to celebrate (as this film does) the fact that Black audiences-of-faith (are there any other?) don't hold themselves or others to the same rigid set of artistic rules. (No homilies need to be laid down, since Black folks will be in church regardless -- that still being the core of the community.) While often preachy (yeah I mean you, Madea!), Black films don't really have to preach to be successful, and therefore Black faith-life can be shown with far a wider color-palette of nuance, contradiction and paradox, than white faith-life."Jumping the Broom" tells a story about two families from different backgrounds clashing together around a marriage. That simple and clichéd theme is given tremendous depth by exploring issues that are far more powerful in the Black community than among other Americans. To say that not all Polish-Americans are the same, is no big deal. To say that Black Americans are as diverse as any other group, is actually a painful truth to portray -- our dirty laundry exposed, our historic "unity" shown as overblown. (Throw in God and faith, Who and which teaches us to love one another, and the pain is magnified.) Black people are classist (both ways), selfish, insensitive, spoiled, boorish -- and also tender, faithful, supportive -- and also sexy, luscious, heartbreakingly gorgeous -- and all at the same time. Those beautiful lips, those multiple shades of brown, the curvaceous bodies -- all that carried with the dignity, wholesome allure, and danger of an original Eve.Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine shine as always, and their dueling performances ring so true (and yes, painful) on so many levels. Paula Patton is simply stunning, and good for her for not playing cheaply with it. (You have to love a beauty who's not trying to remind you of it, but simply and lovably IS.) All the supporting characters are spot-on renderings of people you knew and know -- the wise yet often lascivious uncle; the "friend" trying to undermine your success to keep you "down" with him; the girl who is so beautiful, and used to hearing it, that she doesn't actually know her true worth; the mother who can't deal with her child growing past her narrow and hearty biscuits-and-gravy life.Highly recommended. White people will enjoy this as well, though not feel it as deeply. It is regrettable that amazing Black actors too often can't find decent roles outside of "Black" movies. (Leave aside whether this is anyone's "fault.") Still the fact remains that some fascinating stories can only be told from this particular historical situation -- Black people in America. And some "universal themes" -- like faith-in-life -- are really most fruitfully told from this Black-in-America perspective, where at best they need not hit you over the head with moralizing, but instead can subtly welcome viewers to self-explore -- or not -- as they wish and at their own pace. "Jumping the Broom" if both "not-all-that- deep" and also reflective of the real-life confusions of a people slowly coming to terms with their own successes in this land "under God." Try not to judge any of the characters; just watch them and feel how real they are. And enjoy the rich look of this movie.