Such a frustrating disappointment

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

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.

SOUL FOOD was a huge deal back in the holiday season of 1997. Everyone was talking about the huge leap African-Americans had taken in getting a non-stereotypical movie about black family values out on the big screen. There would be no shoot-em-up by the corner scenes, or baby momma's walking around. Here was a story depicting Middle class black people supporting family values and good ol' family Sunday dinners.Of course, earlier in the year we had LOVE JONES, a superior film that starred Larenz Tate and Nia Long. That movie didn't sugarcoat as much about relationships as SOUL FOOD did. And still, EVE's BAYOU, also released around the same time, was overlooked even though it staggers high above the rest of the list. Boldly, I enjoyed Showtime's version of this film better then the movie.We begin at Bird's wedding, played by- again- the gorgeous Nia Long. Long has seemed to blossom from amateur school girl roles (MADE IN America), to now the mature and sexy kindred she deserves. Her voluptuous cleavage bursting from her blouse, she is peeved her ex-husband (Mel Jackson) has arrived to tamper with her ego, and new husband Lem (Mekhi Phifer), perhaps because Phifer has just been released from prison.There's Maxine, played by the talented Vivica A. Fox, and her husband. Maxine is pregnant again, and her oldest son- Ahmad (Brandon Hammond)- tells the audience his story about how the family holds it together. Maxine is stronger and more blunt about everyday situations, so as she observes Lem dancing with a stranger, she claims 'Let's go beat that ho down'. Not exactly proper etiquette, but SOUL FOOD must let out a few 'ghetto' terminologies if it wants to attract its urban audience.Finally there's the rich couple- Terry and Miles. Played brilliantly by Vanessa L. Williams and Michael Beach, the attorneys with money are of course- not happy. He wants a music career. She loathes that Maxine's husband gives her security, while she feels her independent sculpture has caused drama no one can understand. Terry is snobby, bitter and a workaholic. Her main power hold in the family is that she has the dollars to pay for things like Bird's wedding and beauty shop, Maxine's car payments or Big Momma's hospital bills. Speaking of the latter, Irma P. Hall delivers a brief but powerful performance as the Queen of the nest who holds it all together. A widow of a gambler, she's seen hard times but knows how to work around them. Of course the cliché' in the film finds her dying mid-way through, which of course causes more drama amongst the family. Mysterious cousin Gena rolls in with the wind and finds her content with Miles, since both like music. After they have a roll in the hay, Terry files for divorce and finds even more bitter complaints to have. Meanwhile Bird struggles to find Lem a job when no one will hire him due to his criminal background.While entertaining after 10 years, SOUL FOOD seems thin and drawn out. I didn't have as much fun watching it this time around, even though I still think the performances are top-notch. Vanessa L. William by far gives the best performance in the film, and yet I still wish there was more to Terry Joseph. At least on the show I found solitude with Nicole Ari Parker.

SOUL FOOD is an entertaining and, at times moving film that chronicles the lives of a tight-knit African American family. Big Mama (Irma P. Hall) is the widowed patriarch and referee who always knows exactly what to say to her children in any situation. Vanessa Williams is Terri, the oldest daughter, a no-nonsense attorney who spends a lot of time bailing family members out of tight spots and never lets them forget it. Terri's husband Miles (Michael Beach) is also an attorney who really wants to be a musician and is fighting an attraction to Terri's flaky cousin Faith (Gina Ravera). Viveca A. Fox is Maxine, the middle daughter who is married to Kenny (Jeffrey D. Sams), who we learn she stole from Terri when they were teenagers and has a son Ahmad (Brandon Hammond)who assists Big Mama in her job as family referee. The story opens at the wedding of youngest daughter Bird (Nia Long)whose new husband (Mikhi Phifer)is having trouble securing employment because of his stint in prison. The family manages to handle their differences until Big Mama is incapacitated by illness and can no longer be peacekeeper, but young Ahmad, seeing his family crumble, steps up to take up the slack. This entertaining comedy-drama has a surprisingly smart screenplay and first-rate performances, with young Hammond a standout. Lovely family drama that affectionately embraces the experience of a loving African American family. And the food looks delicious!

Soul Food is one of the best family films ever made. The cast led by Vanessa Williams is superb. Vicva A. Fox and Nia Long are also great as the younger sisters. Micheal Beachmen and Mehki Pffeir are also great. But the real standout is Brandon Hammons who plays Ahmad. He shows great acting talent in his first big role. 10/10.