Although I'm White, I tend to like many of the films that are aimed particularly at Black audiences. Many such films tell a deeper story than some of the superficial films that are generally made in this country (of course, there are exceptions on both sides).The story here is very good, and is told from the perspective of a pre-teen boy with a large extended family. That family has various attributes, some positive, some negative, all fairly realistic. The boy tells the story of the various relationships, and of the importance of family.I'm only going to single out 3 actors here, although all do a creditable job. Irma Hall as Mother Joe is wonderful as the central figure of the extended family. Mekhi Phifer is interesting to watch since this was one of his earlier roles. And Brandon Hammond is remarkably good as the young boy.If you like serious movies about real families, I think you'll like this one.

This is one of the best movies of the 90's. Although it was a hit at the box office when it came out and received very good reviews, it surprisingly received no Oscar nominations and didn't quite mark a revolution in African-American film-making that many critics predicted. However, speaking as a fan of the film ten years later, the film did spark a minor revolution that may have indirectly resulted in Tyler Perry's recent success.Also, Irma P. Hall should definitely have been nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in this movie, because she truly represented the glue that held the cast together. You could blame racism on the fact that she didn't get nominated, but when you consider that this movie came out the same year as such monumentally great films as "L.A. Confidential", "Good Will Hunting", "As Good As It Gets", "The Full Monty", "Donnie Brasco", and (perhaps most especially) "Titanic", one can understand why "Soul Food" got a bit lost in the shuffle.However, if this movie has one fundamental flaw, it is the fact that it was a movie about family, and really should have been a family movie. Heck, it was one of those movies that really transcended the boundaries of race. What stopped it from being one of those movies was it's "R" rating.Of course, the MPAA really isn't to blame on this one. For one, they could have eliminated all but one of the "F-words" (except perhaps for Vivica A. Fox telling Vanessa L. Williams, "You are getting on my F**king nerves". I thought that use of the F-word was appropriate enough given the context). For instance, I thought Williams' "f**k the family" rant, as much as her frustration was significant to that point in the film, could have been expressed using other words.Second, related to Williams' rant, was it necessary for Miles (Michael Beach) to back Faith (Gina Rivera) up against a wall and hump her with his buttocks completely exposed? That scene alone was probably the straw that broke the camels back. The scene could have been just as effective, not to mention tense, if Miles was passionately kissing Faith. The scene that instead remains a permanent fixture in this movie borders on soft core porn. I'm not saying this because I'm a moralist. I'm saying this because this film really would have been a bigger hit if it was not rated R.Otherwise, the film was great. The acting was top notch, and the story line was very intriguing. I'm predicting that this film will turn out to be the black "It's A Wonderful Life". By that, I mean that like the Frank Capra classic, it will gain much more of a following in the next decade or two. We shall see.

This movie tries too hard to have a message, but I think it uses the laziest tools, and poorly develops any real connection to the characters.Granted, there are a few redeeming elements (VERY FEW) that at least offer us something in the way of decent depiction.My wife loves this film, but she admits it is perhaps more because she can relate to coming from a big family with a big mama at the centre of it.It's hard to comment on the acting because I think the script was so poor the actors didn't have a chance to do much with it. There was plenty of missed opportunities to develop characters and drama with a proper scene here or there, but they skimmed by providing us with info via narration. Movies with narration CAN work, but only if done right, and NEVER at the expense of proper dialogue and development.-- SPOILERS AHEAD -- YOU"VE BEEN WARNED -- (go to end of Spoiler section for my summary)For example, by the time mama dies, we haven't had a real chance to feel for her. And, when Lem goes to jail again, why don't we see Bird visit him? --- END OF SPOILERS, read on.. --- There are too many scenes missing that SHOULD have been there in order to establish some emotional connection with the characters - and, in a movie without token action, suspense, horror or comedic tones, theonly play left is to establish emotional connection. If emotional connection is your bread and butter, do it right. Soul Food didn't get it done.For example, if you've seen Full Metal Jacket, many will say the movie is split in too distinct movements. There is some narration, but the movie takes its time and leads us to the brink of the end of the first movement, patiently using scenes and dialogue that capture the emotions that will come into play, by which time we fully are connected to the development of character and pain - it can be done.For a similar look at black families trying to deal with each other, try Kingdom Come - it was MUCH more believable, much more touching, and didn't take itself seriously at all, which lent a refreshing non-preachy tone. The part of the reverend was also played much better, it wasfunnier when it had to be, and more touching where it had to be, and the matriarch was a lot less perfect and real than the one in Soul Food.

Wonderfully acted and well-written comedy/drama (more drama, though) about an extended family who spend their sundays together with a huge dinner. What's on the menu? Soul Food of course!But when Big Mama Joe (and the glue of the family) falls into a coma the family fall out, it's up to Maxine's boy Ahmad, (and story narrator) to bring the big family together again for another sunday dinner.Of course when portraying a realistic family it helps to have good actors, and with a stellar cast including Vanessa L. Williams, Vivica A. Fox and Nia Long they pull it off successfully.Just like what the tagline says: Reality with a bite.