Soul Food ( 1997 ) - 3 stars out of 5 stars

Not in the class of Spike Lee's "Crooklyn" which I reviewed previously,but ok anyway.There is another film with the same name but I haven't seen it so I don't know what if anything,it has in common with this one.Released in 1997 and running 115 minutes,this films strength is also it's weakness,thats why I take 2 stars off.The issues in this film,though seen thru black eyes,could be just as easily white issues.Thats the problem as well.In"Crooklyn"disaster was always around the corner.In"Soul Food"you get the feeling they put themselves in their own problem positions and would figure away out,or else,so be it.That most certainly is NOT the case in Crooklyn.Anyway,back to this film.Brandon Hammond is outstanding as a the young lad who is telling his families story while trying to keep it together after his grandma's death.HE is the main reason to see this film.The rest of the cast is ok,with some just ok music by"Babyface"If you want to see a black film,its JUST ok.There are better,but few better performances than the ending by young Brandon.Trailer URL follows pix and a IMDB summary below.

Matriarch Mama Joe has held her family together for 40 years around a Sunday dinner of soul food. When diabetes hospitalizes her, the dinners stop and tensions among her three daughters start to break the family apart. Two of the sisters feud continuously: Teri is jealous of Maxine's marriage and irritated that everyone assumes her corporate salary is open to the rest of the family's uses. Maxine resents Teri's bossiness and insensitivity to family tradition. Bird, the youngest, newly married to an ex-con, accepts a favor from an old lover that leads to her husband's arrest. Mama Joe's grandson Ahmad cooks up a scheme to bring the family together, back to the table. Written by <jhailey@hotmail.com>

http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4286841113/