Recently, I had the complete pleasure of getting a sneak peek of the most anticipated movie of the summer, Jumping the Broom. Directed by “The Game” director Salim Akil, I’ve seen this movie promoted everywhere and couldn’t wait to check it out.
The star-studded cast includes Angela Bassett, Laz Alonso, Paula Patton, Loretta Devine, Tasha Smith, Julie Bowen, Meagan Good, Romeo Miller, Deray Davis,Valerie Petiford, and we can’t leave out comedian Mike Epps and a special appearance by producer T.D. Jakes.
I related to this film in so many ways. I could have sworn that director Akil sat me down and asked me to tell her my wedding nuptial memories because — boy, oh boy — there were so many scenes in the movie that reminded me of the planning my own wedding.
The weekend nuptials take place in Martha’s Vineyard, and the scenery in the movie is drop-dead gorgeous! Everything is top-notch, from the great backdrops to the interior design to, of course, the ocean view. Also, for us glam girls, you will see lots of great hairstyles, fashions and, yes, shoes!
Eye candy Laz Alonso (Jason Taylor) and Paula Patton (Sabrina Watson) are the happy couple trying to plan a fab wedding with their own style and flair. Only thing is they come from different socioeconomic backgrounds. Jason does the typical thing that men do, which is to avoid the situation by prolonging his family meeting Sabrina’s family but, when they do meet, it’s not pretty. There’s tension between them because the couple only knew each other for six months, and neither has met the other’s family.
Angela Bassett plays Sabrina’s uppity mom who doesn’t want to have anything to do with lower class people. Loretta Devine plays Jason’s hardworking mom who loves her son dearly and finds it hard to let go of him.
The couple has some strange characters in their families that share their two cents about the relationship, the wedding and how they would do things differently. There are plenty of funny scenes, things that make you think and get upset and more! It’s full of drama, jealously, romance, fights and situations that we all have experienced while trying to plan a wedding. And the good thing is, with all of that, I didn’t hear any profanity.
The scene where Loretta Devine explains the jumping of the broom was very moving for me personally because my husband and I had that done at our wedding.
The realistic story line made sense, and it was good to see African Americans in love on the big screen and trying to do the right thing. I don’t want to give away too much about the movie, but you will be surprised with how it takes a twist. I was shocked! I give Jumping the Broom, which opened this weekend, an A. Please check it out! –tammie reed
