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Brown Sugar

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Brown Sugar (2002)

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Reviews Counted:84

Fresh:54

Rotten:30

Average Rating:6.2/10

Consensus: Though you can guess the outcome of Brown Sugar at the beginning, Lathan and Diggs imbue this romantic comedy with a lot of charm.

Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Rick Famuyiwa breathes a refreshing burst of air into the romantic comedy genre with BROWN SUGAR, a film that is as much a tribute to hip-hop as it is a celebration of friendship and love. Dre... Rick Famuyiwa breathes a refreshing burst of air into the romantic comedy genre with BROWN SUGAR, a film that is as much a tribute to hip-hop as it is a celebration of friendship and love. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan), best friends since elementary school, have been in love with rap music since they can remember. It has even carried through into their adult lives. Dre is making a successful living as a record executive, while Sidney has just taken over as editor-in-chief at one of the hip-hop community's most popular magazines. Somehow, romance has never been an issue between the two, until they both find new loves of their own--for Dre, it's the beautiful Reese (Nicole Ari Parker), for Sidney, it's basketball star Kelby (Boris Kodjoe). Disillusioned with the lackluster music that his label continually puts out, Dre decides to branch out on his own. Sidney gives him a loan to support his bold new venture, but it is this unflinching support that eventually begins to grate on Reese and Kelby, forcing Dre and Sidney to confront their true feelings. Famuyiwa's crowd-pleasing film is boosted by Mos Def and Queen Latifah's hysterical supporting performances. [More]

Starring: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Queen Latifah

Starring: Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan, Mos Def, Queen Latifah, Nicole Ari Parker, Method Man, Boris Kodjoe, Kool G. Rap, De La Soul, Black Thought

Director: Rick Famuyiwa

Director: Rick Famuyiwa
Screenwriter: Michael Elliott, Rick Famuyiwa
Producer: Peter Heller
Studio: Fox Searchlight Pictures

[See More Credits]

Reviews for Brown Sugar

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
12/30/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
08/05/03
Guardian [UK]
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Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
07/16/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

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Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
07/01/03
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
05/11/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

The spirit of the old school echoes strongly throughout the film and parallels the purity of the passions and personalities of the paramours.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
12/30/08
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
N/R

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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Brown Sugar manages to take hip-hop's well-established history and make it digestible for audiences not necessarily tied directly into the core of that culture.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
07/02/08
Todd Gilchrist
Todd Gilchrist
IGN Movies

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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

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Full Review Source: FilmStew.com | comment Comment
02/01/04
FilmStew.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Fine performances from Diggs and Lathan give life to an otherwise rehashed love story, but musician Mos Def steals the show.

Full Review Source: Palo Alto Weekly | comment Comment
05/20/03
Tyler Hanley
Tyler Hanley
Palo Alto Weekly

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Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
03/22/03
Terri Clark
Terri Clark
Apollo Guide

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Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/10/03
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

All in all, Brown Sugar is a satisfying well-made romantic comedy that's both charming and well acted. It will guarantee to have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face.

Full Review Source: Katrillion.com | comment Comment
12/18/02
Ron Bishow
Ron Bishow
Katrillion.com

The plot is romantic comedy boilerplate from start to finish.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/08/02
Rick Kisonak
Rick Kisonak
Film Threat

Hip-hop rarely comes alive as its own fire-breathing entity in this picture.

Full Review Source: Creative Loafing | comment Comment
11/20/02
Matt Brunson
Matt Brunson
Creative Loafing

True to its title, this hip-hop When Harry Met Sally is plenty sweet, but is that what we really want from a film set in the world of rap music?

Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY | comment Comment
11/19/02
Adam Nayman
Adam Nayman
eye WEEKLY

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Full Review Source: EricDSnider.com | comment Comment
11/09/02
Eric D. Snider
Eric D. Snider
EricDSnider.com

Brown Sugar takes an old tale and tells it in a fresh, modern way. The music's pretty good, too.

Full Review Source: Aisle Seat | comment Comment
11/07/02
Mike McGranaghan
Mike McGranaghan
Aisle Seat
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 >> >|
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