Just Wright (2010)

Directed by: Sanaa Hamri | 101 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Queen Latifah, Common, Paula Patton, Pam Grier, James Pickens Jr., Phylicia Rashad, Laz Alonso, Mehcad Brooks, Michael Landes, John Legend

Hip-hop star and actress Queen Latifah (real name Dana Owens) has a number of records to her name: she was the first female rapper to be nominated for an Oscar (for her role in ‘Chicago’, 2002) and the first hip-hop artist to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (January 2006). She is also nicknamed ‘Hip-hop’s first lady’, although opinions are divided about whether she really deserves that honor. Nothing in Sanaa Hamri’s film ‘Just Wright’ should count as a record, however, because the film is not innovative or original, but that is not a bad thing at all.

In ‘Just Wright’ Queen Latifah plays the role of the single Leslie Wright, a sociable, sympathetic woman in her thirties, with a nice job as a physiotherapist at a hospital, and in search of the right one. It soon becomes clear why it hasn’t worked out yet: men see her as a friend rather than a woman to fall in love with. She’s great company, knows how to have fun, isn’t fussy about calories at dinner, and is a good conversationalist about sports (especially the New Jersey Nets basketball team), but that’s not exactly what the men Leslie encounters turn to. be missing. Not only is Leslie looking for love, her beautiful but shallow friend/foster sister Morgan (Paula Patton) is also on the pick-up tour. However, she mainly wants financial security and has therefore set her sights on snagging a sportsman. It seems to her the end to be able to show off the latest and most expensive clothing and accessories at a game in the box where the husbands of the basketball players sit. When Leslie meets famed Nets goalscorer Scott McKnight (Common) at a gas station, he invites her to his birthday party. Leslie’s father is convinced that Leslie has hooked a man, but he’s wrong: one look at Morgan and Scott is sold. The lie that she, like him, also does a lot of charitable work, does no harm. In no time the wedding bells are ringing, but then Scott gets an injury. Guess who gets to patch it up? Morgan sees her chances of a carefree rich man’s life dwindling due to the cautious medical prognosis and decides to leave Scott. Leslie and Scott grow closer, but with Leslie’s success in the medical field, Morgan’s interest in dating Scott rises again…

‘Just Wright’ is a formula film, but one that is made with such skill, that you take the predictability for granted. Queen Latifah is particularly endearing in her role and easily wraps the audience around her fingers. The versatile artist always comes across as a woman who feels good and comfortable despite the fact that her posture does not correspond to what is usual in Hollywood and Leslie’s character seems to be made for her. Although Common pales next to the radiant center of the film, he still manages to hold his own next to the charismatic lead actress. Paula Patton is also very convincing as a young woman eager for money and prestige. For male viewers, the film is also worth a recommendation: ‘Just Wright’ is nowhere sweet or dramatic and the scenes that play on the basketball court ensure that it is not too much of a task for romantic comedy haters to watch this film. to watch. Sanaa Hamri has previously directed clips for Prince and Mariah Carey and films such as ‘Something New’ and ‘The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2′. With ‘Just Wright’ she adds a pleasant surprise to her resume.