'3BlackChicks Review...'
DELIVER US FROM EVA (2003) Rated R; running time 105 minutes Studio: Focus Films Genre: Romantic Comedy Seen at: Celebration Cinema (Lansing, Michigan) Official site: http://www.deliverusfromevamovie.com/ IMDB site: http://us.imdb.com/Details?0301181 Written by: Gary Hardwick Directed by: Gary Hardwick Cast: Gabrielle Union, LL Cool J, Essence Atkins, Dartanyan Edmonds, Meagan Good, Mel Jackson, Robinne Lee, Duane Martin
Review Copyright Rose Cooper, 2003 Review URL: http://www.3blackchicks.com/2003reviews/bamsdeliverus.html
At least I'm an Equal Opportunity Disser: I felt exactly the same way about DELIVER US FROM EVA as I did BRIDGET JONES'S DIARY.
THE STORY (WARNING: **spoilers contained below**) Eva Dandridge (Gabrielle Union) was The Responsible Sister. After their parents were killed in an auto accident, the 18-year-old Eva raised her younger sisters Kareenah (Essence Atkins), Bethany Sacrificing her all for them, Eva deferred many of her dreams until she, like those dreams, shriveled like a raisin in the sun. And because so much of her life has been spent living vicariously to her now chronologically-grown sisters, Eva treats her brothers-in-law Tim (Mel Jackson) and Darryl (Dartanyan Edmonds) and potential b-i-l Mike (Duane Martin) the same way she treats her sisters: as if they couldn't possibly have a mind of their own. Which, of course, they really don't.
Out-of-earshot of Eva, the (and I use this term loosely) "men" conspire to hook Eva up with gigolo-for-hire Ray (LL Cool J), with the notion that Playa Playa Ray could charm and distract Eva long enough for them to reacquaint themselves with their wives (hopefully, stopping to reattach their nads first). But who knew the shrew would tame Ray?
THE UPSHOT You Know You're In Trouble When...you fail to find a single character you can identify with, let alone like, in the movie you're watching. I found myself close to despising every one of the characters that made their way across the screen. The husbands/fiance were completely spineless (I'd use the "p" word, but I'm too much of a lady to Go There). The wives were Stepfordish [for Eva's benefit. Shudder.] immature, and about as ready to be in a long-term relationship as their doofus mates were. Ray shared the same tendency as his counterpart LL Cool J, to repeatedly, distractingly lick his lips in a very unappealing fashion (not to mention LL being so unconvincing as either a Playa Playa or The Reformed that it was hard to keep my eyes from rolling out of their sockets). And as Eva The Shrew, I felt sorriest for Gabrielle Union. At least she didn't have to do a lap dance (see "The Black Factor" below), but this movie isn't much of an improvement. Did none of these people pay attention to what SOUL FOOD taught us about Black Movie Families?
Under other circumstances, I might say that the actors did their jobs well, by evoking such ill will in me. But this movie just got on my nerves, without the added benefit of having done so in a clever way. Not that this mess is all the fault of the actors. It seems as if writer/director Gary Hardwick was content to have EVA simply be "The Brothers 2: Now With Breastesses!"
To be fair, there were a few cute moments here and there (the way Eva had the tables turned on her when she met up with an old flame being one of them), but I spent most of my time being irritated when watching this flick, not being entertained. I'm sorry, but these people were just in need of a good old fashioned asswhuppin. I wouldn't be caught dead in the same room with them, much less want to be in any way related.
The one thing DELIVER US FROM EVA has going for it, though, is it's no BOOTY CALL. In fact, there's nothing particularly "Black" about this story; these characters could roughly be sketched by WASPs from Seattle, Latinas in South Central, and even Big Fat Greek Women in New York. This, if there is any doubt, is A Good Thing. Finally, it's ok for Black Folk to make lame, upscale romantic comedies!
Seriously though, it's a shame this movie didn't do better, because the DELIVER US FROM EVA opening sequence was wonderfully executed. Too bad EVA failed to really Deliver.
THE "BLACK FACTOR" [ObDisclaimer: We Are Not A Monolith] For anyone wondering about the plight of any current Black actress in Hollywood not named "Halle Berry", check out the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS article <http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/story/57488p-53860c.html> titled "Waiting to expand their film roles", written by Rebecca Louie. It's a good read on the subject; and I'd say that even if I hadn't been quoted there.
BAMMER'S BOTTOM LINE As I've said before about BROWN SUGAR, I'm cool with not liking a particular Black movie because of the content of its character, not the color of its skin. Hey, does this mean We have finally Overcome?
DELIVER US FROM EVA rating: yellowlight
Rose "Bams" Cooper Webchick and Editor, 3BlackChicks Review Entertainment Reviews With Flava! Copyright Rose Cooper, 2003 EMAIL: bams@3blackchicks.com http://www.3blackchicks.com/
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