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"LOVE JONES"
(1997) (Larenz Tate, Nia Long) (R)

Alcohol/
Drugs
Blood/Gore Disrespectful/
Bad Attitude
Frightening/
Tense Scenes
Guns/
Weapons
Heavy None Mild None None
Imitative
Behavior
Jump
Scenes
Music
(Scary/Tense)
Music
(Inappropriate)
Profanity
Mild None None None Extreme
Sex/
Nudity
Smoking Tense Family
Scenes
Topics To
Talk About
Violence
Moderate Moderate Minor Mild Minor


QUICK TAKE:
Romantic Comedy: A romance has its ups and downs for two young urban professionals.
PLOT:
Darius Lovehall (LARENZ TATE) is an aspiring novelist. Nina Mosley (NIA LONG) is an aspiring photographer who has just broken up with her boyfriend. Fate brings them together and although she wants nothing to do with another relationship, his charm and persistence begin to wear her down and she eventually agrees to go out with him. They end up sleeping together, but he tells friend Savon Garrison (ISAIAH WASHINGTON), that they're "just kicking" just like Nina tells her friend, Josie Nichols (LISA NICOLE CARSON). After a while they break up and she begins to date one of Darius' friends, Hollywood (BILL BELLAMY), and he sees other people. Nevertheless, they can't stay away from each other and soon their romance blossoms again.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
If they like urban romantic comedies or are fans of any of the cast, they might.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For language and sexuality.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
  • LARENZ TATE plays an aspiring writer who is persistent enough to wear down Nina's resistance to dating him. He eventually sleeps with her and then with another woman in retaliation for her leaving him.
  • NIA LONG plays an aspiring photographer who sleeps with Darius and then dates other people although she still has feelings for him.
  • CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

    HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE


    OUR TAKE: 6 out of 10
    This is yet another romantic comedy starring actors who definitely create a strong chemistry between their characters. Darius and Nina's relationship seems true and the audience roots for them to get together and stay together. They're hampered, however, by the trappings of the genre's traditional plot. As with most other romantic comedies, the couple flirts, gets together, breaks up and finally get back together again to close out the movie. It would have been nice had the film makers offered up a twist of some sort, but the film still survives this shortcoming due to the strong and fresh characterizations. The supporting cast is also good and it's nice to see a more mature romantic comedy after the recent sophomoric effort, "Booty Call." While the film could have used a stronger dose of comedy, what's there is funny. Had the plot been a bit more original, we would have given this a higher rating. As it is, we give it a 6 out of 10.
    OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
    Beyond the sexual content and profanity, there isn't a great deal to object to. While there's a moderate amount of sexually related discussions, nudity is limited to brief glimpses of bare breasts during one sexual encounter. Profanity is extreme with 20+ "f" words, and while drinking and smoking occur throughout the movie, neither is done to an extreme by any one character. Other than that, the categories are rather mild. We do suggest, however, if you or you kids wish to see this film that you check out the scene listings first.

    ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE
  • There is a heavy amount of drinking throughout the movie, with most of the characters, and many "background" characters drinking in a bar, at parties, and elsewhere. Beer, wine and the occasional mixed drink are consumed.
  • BLOOD/GORE
  • None.
  • DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE
  • A photographer who Nina assists for treats her badly and is mad because she couldn't get the lunch he wanted.
  • The fact that the group discusses whether God is a man or woman based on sexual activity may upset those with strong religious convictions. During the discussion, Wood says that "If God were a woman, she would have put the d*ck right under the chin..."
  • Despite her feelings for Darius, Nina decides to go to N.Y. to see her old boyfriend. To retaliate, Darius sleeps with another woman (not seen). Nina returns and then starts to date Wood, one of Darius' friends.
  • After getting into a small fight while on a date, Nina asks Wood if he's going to take her home. He replies, "Hell no," and lets her begin walking home alone at night.
  • FRIGHTENING SCENES
  • None.
  • GUNS/WEAPONS
  • None.
  • IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR
  • Phrases: "Jacked up you," "Bone," and "Just kicking," all for casual sex, and "Nigger" (said to a black person by a black person).
  • Nina asks Wood what kind of underwear he wears and he says that he doesn't, that he "just lets it hang."
  • Darius and Savon drink liquor from brown paper bags while sitting on the beach.
  • Darius runs the wrong way down an upward moving escalator.
  • JUMP SCENES
  • None.
  • MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)
  • None.
  • MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)
  • None.
  • PROFANITY
  • 24 "f" words (6 with the prefix "mother" and 4 used sexually), 31 "s" words, 4 slang terms for male genitals (the "d" word), 1 slang term for breasts ("titty"), 12 "ass" words, 11 damns, 8 hells, and 1 use each of "Oh my God" and "God damn" as exclamations.
  • SEX/NUDITY
  • Darius reads a poem in front of a crowd to Nina. In it he says, "I want to give you injections of sublime erections" and "I'd rather pursue you...in a wet dream."
  • At a party, Savon says, "When a man gets a hard on, you know where the blood comes from, right? His brain and his feet. A, he's stupid, and B, he can't run."
  • The group discusses whether God is a man or woman. Wood says, "If God were a woman, she would have put the d*ck right under the chin..."
  • After Nina asks "What if it starts raining again?" Darius replies, "What, are you afraid of getting "wet" tonight?"
  • Darius and Nina have sex. Her bare breasts are briefly seen and while there is some sexual movement, the editing of the scene makes it more sensual than outright sexual.
  • Darius tells Nina, "I can't stand to sleep with a woman who then dogs you" (doesn't call, etc...), implying that he's slept with many women.
  • When Nina tells Josie that she and Darius "accidentally" had sex, Josie asks, "What, you sort of slipped and fell on his d*ck?" Josie then wants to know the details and wants to know "how big" and "how long" Darius' private parts are. Nina then tells Josie, "It was just like his d*ck talked to me..."
  • The phrases "Jacked up you," "Bone," and "Just kicking" are used among the group when referring to casual sex.
  • While taking photographs of Darius, Nina tells him to undress. He partially does before she comes over and straddles his lap. They passionately kiss and the scene ends as he begins to unzip her shirt.
  • Despite her feelings for Darius, Nina decides to go to N.Y. to see her old boyfriend. To retaliate, Darius sleeps with another woman (not seen).
  • At a bar, Nina asks Josie, "Is there ever a night where you don't have penis on the brain?"
  • Darius and Nina try to sleep in separate beds, but all they can think about is sex. Hints of the beginning of masturbation follow as she puts a pillow between her legs and he puts his hand down under the covers, but then quickly pulls it out. They eventually end up in the same bed and it's implied that they have sex.
  • SMOKING
  • There is a moderate amount of smoking throughout the movie. Darius smokes from the start and Nina later picks up the habit from him.
  • TENSE FAMILY SCENES
  • Savon's wife moves out and takes their/her child with her, but later returns.
  • TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT
  • Dating and premarital sex.
  • VIOLENCE
  • Darius pushes his typewriter off the table in frustration.
  • Darius accidentally knocks people aside, and one man over, as he races the wrong way down an escalator as he tries to catch Nina at the train station.



  • Reviewed March 3, 1997

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