Not right.By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time," "Cinema Classics," and "On the Marquee"
I learn something new every day: For instance, I would have thought the outsized Queen Latifah could save any film by the force of her wry smile. In Just Wright, as physical therapist Leslie Wright she smiles a bit, not enough really, but she flashes no wit or sass except in a brief scene with Phylicia Rashad as the mother of NBS star Scott McKnight (Common). The film is like a Catholic basketball league next to the NBA. There's really no comparison.
Leslie falls for the star while she attends to his injury; her adopted sister, Morgan (Paula Patton) has the looks to catch the much too introspective and vulnerable prize, especially as she makes it her job to become am NBA trophy wife. Unfortunately, the outcome fits the title just right, and the formulaic steps are never varied by director Sanaa Hamri.
At 6'2," Common just about makes it as a guard; at 5'10"and some serious weight, Latifah almost overpowers him (in heels she does). I had a hard time keeping all the imbalances from making me feel imbalanced about the film, whose lack of dramatic challenges and surprises leaves me feeling as if I need the therapy as well to remember what engaging romantic comedy really is. The humorous complexities of a Judd Apatow Knocked UP are absent.
But the film is briefly saved by Latifah's presence, Common's ability to project pain, and Patton's beauty. Unfortunately the only winner is the casting director.
John DeSando teaches film at Franklin University and co-hosts WCBE 90.5's It's Movie Time, Cinema Classics, and On the Marquee, which can be heard streaming at http://publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/ppr/index.shtml and on demand at http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wcbe/arts.artsmain Contact him at JDeSando@Columbus.RR.com