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List Price: $14.98 | | Label: 20th Century Fox
Salesrank: 9110
Released: February 11, 2003 |
| Our Price: $5.73 |
| Used Price: $4.48 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
One of 2002's most underrated films, Brown Sugar offers more than you'd expect from a conventional romantic comedy. The love story between Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) is the least interesting part of the movie; the costars have delightful chemistry, but their hookup is a given. What's refreshing is the way the story draws a parallel between Dre and Sidney's longtime friendship (they meet as kids in a 1984 flashback) and the evolution of hip-hop music from urban roots to dubious mainstream acceptance. Dre's a disillusioned producer at pop-fueled Millennium Records, married to a beauty (Nicole Ari Parker) who cheats while embracing her coveted status quo. Editor of an influential music magazine, Sidney's tentatively engaged to a basketball star (Boris Kodjoe), but these loves are obstacles, and Dre and Sidney are meant for each other. In bringing them together, Brown Sugar allows for human mistakes, intelligent solutions, and the kind of three-dimensional behavior that romantic comedies typically don't provide. --Jeff Shannon
Brown Sugar Reviews:
Great Movie 
2008-09-01 - Once I got this movie, I never seen it and I decided to purchase a used copy and I will defintely buy again.
Brown Sugar 
2008-08-14 - I agree with a previous reviewer that this is one of those movies that I gladly supported by seeing 3 times upon its release because it's a love story as opposed to a gang-banging, drug related shoot em up. I love seeing movies with attractive African American actors playing upwardly mobile responsible adults.
It was also a clever twist to use hip hop as a metaphor for the lead characters life long relationship and I truly didn't feel like they beat me over the head with the comparisons. Initially I thought I was seeing a film about two people who'd grown up loving hip hop, had careers related to hip hop and then fell in love but as the movie went on, I realized that their relationship & the evolution of hip hop were one & the same.
Since others have detailed the movie plot, I just wanted to add my two cents regarding likes & dislikes.
Likes:
SANAA LATHAN is again terrific as the everywoman. I think she's such a good actress because in all of her films, she makes me FEEL her character's emotions. I believe her as the confident editor of a hip hop magazine and I believe her as a young confused woman who realizes that she is in love with her best friend.
QUEEN LATIFAH & MOS DEF - scene stealers, both are fantastic in their supporting roles
NICOLE ARI PARKER - ever fabulous as the bride who slowly realizes that she doesn't really know the man she's married
BORIS KODJOE - always gorgeous to look at, he is good as the self-absorbed baller. (His drunk behavior at the Holiday party always cracks me up!)
THE EXTRAS - although I would have liked a short series of interviews with the cast regarding their true feelings about hip hop - how it's influenced them, "when they first fell in love with hip hop", etc; the deleted scenes along with the director's commentary was interesting & the videos were a treat
Dislikes
TAYE DIGGS - he is not one of my favorite actors so it took a lot for me to accept him in this role. He's good but not entirely believable as a record exec
CHEMISTRY - there was no romantic chemistry between the two leads, Sanaa & Taye which made their storyline of the least interest to me
Overall I am glad I added this disc to my collection because I'd rather see different aspects of "Black love" portrayed than "black on black crimes" on the big screen.
Another good movie!
2008-05-19 - I remember watching brown sugar in the theatres a long time ago and now I am glad to watch it again. Who said that two best friends can't hook up? If they knew it each other kicking it from since they were small, there is no doubt that love cannot be felt among them. Dre & Sydney were in love with each other from since day one. They both loved hip hop grew up with it and promoted hip hop when they were older. Hip Hop brought them together. It is a good movie for those who like movies with love in it also. Enjoy looking at Brown Sugar.
Rick Famuyiwa does it again with this sweet love story
2008-03-26 - Rick Famuyiwa continues to show his talent to Hollywood in the sweet Brown Sugar. Rick Famuyiwa who burst on to the scene with the vastly underrated The Wood in 1999 has made a charming film that couples, hip hop heads and anyone just looking for a good film can enjoy. Brown Sugar use the evoulation of hip hop to tell the story of Dre and Sidney two life long friends who belong. Dre and Sidney are both played with charm by Taye Diggs and Sanna Lathan. Sugar is similar to Love & Basketball on some levels just subistute basketball for the music indstury but this film is more of Lathan's story who should have recieved top billing this time. Mos Def steals every scene he's in as Chris an up and coming rapper and Queen Latifah, Nicole Parker and Boris Kodjoe all give good performances. A vibrant soundtrack and sharp script by Mike Eillot should made this film a hit.
"Friend's B-4 Lovers"
2007-03-29 - This was a good movie with a great story line. This movie also teaches us that friends make better lovers. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you should check it out. It also reveals some of the "First *REAL PIONEERS* of RAP". They make special appearances in this film. So check it out.
