Despite what Larry Bird would have you believe in 1992 white men couldn't jump. This fact was perpetuated by the declining PC rhetoric & rising black pride and awareness of the 90's (what happened to that shit). The last remaining cliches of these misinformed stereotypes involved the racial male genitalia & female hind parts. But i digress this post isn't about black power & the white man's leaping ability, well maybe the latter.
On March 27th 1992 Twentieth Century Fox released a basketball movie about race relations and other comedic, hued hijinks in Southern California. Starring a pre-Blade Wesley Snipes, a pre-Zombieland Woody Harrelson, ex-Fly Girl Rosie Perez and a charming supporting turn by a post-A Different World Kadeem Hardison. Oh yeah, and Alex Trebek, bitches. How's that for an emsemble cast?? Uhh, Suck it Soderbergh! Check out the original trailer...
Written & directed by Ron Shelton, the creator of BULL DURHAM (google it), WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP tells the harrowing tale of two pretty ok, morally moderate guys Billy Hoyle (Harrelson) & Sydney Deane (Snipes) who happen to be the best street ballers on the black tops of Southern California.
Sydney is a working class ball hustler with a family to feed and Billy, a pretty classy ball hustler with a girlfriend (Perez) to feed. Through a series of racially hilarious, athletic events they join forces to get this money conning their way from town to town from basketball court to basketball court where much "hued hijinks" ensues. Sydney's trying to keep his & his family's head above water. Billy's trying to keep himself alive & his girlfriend happy. The main conflict comes from the two butting heads in agenda, morality & ethnicity. Oh and did I forget to mention mawf@$#in' Alex Trebek makes a cameo in this bitch(oh i did? oh ok cool.)?!
It did pretty well at the box office and was moderately received by critics. I went to see it when i was like 9 years-old with my Aunt & cousin and my aunt would cover our eyes during the sex scene. Oh yeah there's a pretty decent sex scene featuring Rosie Perez in her prime. Unfortunately Harrelson is in there somewhere too.
Along with memorable characters a solid yet quirky plot & Alex Trebek. WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP: The Movie also boasts a pretty dope soundtrack. Among those songs was this single...
Yup mawf@ckin' Main Source, hoe!
So in summary we got a buddy flick centered around hilarious race relations, basketball & getting over, a sex scene featuring Rosie Perez. Alex "motherf@ckin'" Trebek and a soundtrack that features a dope Main Source track. Personally i see no reason why you shouldn't dig this. Check it out yo!
Rating: 4 out of 5 ninja stars
