Posted: 06/26/2002

Juwanna Mann

(2002)

by Yasmin Hunt

Juwanna save money, wait for the DVD…

Okay I’m not going to start this review with an obvious Juwanna joke because… well that’s not the type of lady I am. But, I’ll go ahead and tell you not to expect any surprises in this Tootsie ‘02 remake. It’s a typical feel good and possible date movie. So let’s get on with it shall we? Jamal Jeffries (Miguel Nuñez, Scooby-Doo) is an egotistical, pain in the you know what. He is the star basketball player for the Charlotte Beat. During a b-ball game (in which he plays against real NBA players like the legendary Mugsy Bouges) he gets fouled out and has the temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums. And I thought no one could top my nineteen month old’s. Jamal even puts Dennis Rodman to shame! Jamal is not only fired from the Beat, but also kicked out of the NBA after doing a Full Monty in front of the crowd. No job, no house, no friends, no money, no Lil’ Kim (who plays his girlfriend for all of five minutes), Jamal moves in with his aunt and, after being dissed by his agent Lorne (Kevin Pollack, The Usual Suspects), Jamal decides that, if he can’t play for the NBA, he’ll play for the WNBA — and he does.

Enter Juwanna Mann, a woman not easy on the eyes with a sweet Southern accent and a killer crossover. She joins the Charlotte Banshees (why the association between women and banshees?) and butts heads with the team leader Michelle (Vivica A. Fox, Soul Food) because Juwanna’s such a ball hog and her attitude is bigger than her hair. But when Michelle and Juwanna have a heart to heart, Juwanna realizes that passing to her teammates is much better than scoring. Juwanna has now become the rock of the team.

So what’s the story about? As Lorne attempts to get Jamal another hearing with the commissioner of the NBA so he may be reinstated, Juwanna makes moves on the Banshees and takes them to stardom and the playoffs. She also spies Michelle’s love, Romeo (Ginuwine), making his own moves on other females. By now, Juwanna has a bunch of balls in the air, having to continue the façade, fight his growing feelings for Michelle, and fight off Puff Smokey Smoke (Tommy Davidson, Booty Call). Puff Smokey Smoke is Romeo boy who looks like a miniature version of Master P and jewelry store. He’s got more gold in his teeth than I do in my jewelry box. Juwanna Mann is much more entertaining when Jamal is Juwanna. The interactions between Juwanna and Puff Smokey Smoke are hilarious, maybe the best scenes of the movie. You have to take this movie with a grain of salt because there will be no Oscar here. The acting is a little bit strained due to all the non-actors, but the addition of real NBA and WNBA players is worth it. Be glad they’re not rapping. I guess Jesse Vaughn’s directorial debut didn’t turn out to be too bad. But maybe he should keep practicing on ‘NSync’s music videos. Look out for Kim Wayans (I’m Gonna Get You Sucka) as Latisha, the Banshee playa who loves the ladies. Literally. She’s got some really funny lines in this movie. All in all, Juwanna Mann is okay in that laid back sort of way. Don’t expect serious laughs or poignant moments here, it’s just straight slapstick comedy and that’s okay if that’s what you’re looking for. So… Juwanna go check out this movie? Wait until it comes out on DVD and save the extra five bucks it costs to go to the theatre. I’m sorry. I couldn’t leave without at least one.

Yasmin Hunt currently lives in Virginia, watching movies, and wondering how some of those screenwriters got their film deals.

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