Plot: What’s it about?
Sydney Dean (Wesley Snipes) is a part time home renovation worker who is trying to take his family out of inner city, but has trouble finding enough work to afford it. Billy Hoyle (Woody Harrelson) is a goofy looking white guy who owes money to some loan sharks and has a girlfriend hell bent on being a Jeopardy champion. While these two seem worlds apart at first glance, they find themselves united by one thing, basketball. You see Sydney rules the courts and makes extra cash by schooling the locals and when Billy shows up, he thinks he has a sucker in his sights. But after Billy hustles Sydney, the tables turn and it seems like there is a new king of the courts. Sidney decides to make the best of the situation and offer to work with Billy as a team, hustling the courts by playing Billy as a no talent hack. Their plan works like a charm until Sidney sells out the partnership and helps another team to hustle Billy. But after their females have a little chat the two are back on the courts and it seems as though nothing can stop them…except each other.
This movie was billed as a comedy and perhaps that is why some people seem to despise it so much. While this film has loads of hilarious moments and situations, there is also a dramatic and emotional vein running through this one. I don’t think this will disappoint those looking for a good laugh, perhaps some were unhappy with the dramatic edge and that’s why they dislike the movie. While I agree the more serious sequences could use some work, I don’t think they hamper the movie in terms of entertainment value. As if you can’t tell from the plot synopsis this is a movie based on basketball, so if you hate sports films then you won’t find much there to like. If you do like a little b-ball mixed in with your laughs then you’ll be pleased with the in game scenes here, as they are well written and executed to perfection. The trash talking is second to none and the shooting and passing couldn’t look more graceful unless Bernard King himself was handling the ball. I recommend this release as a rental to comedy and sports fans, but I think followers of the film should invest in a copy for their personal collections.
This film was written and directed by Ron Shelton, who seems to have a knack for delivering terrific sports movies. Shelton’s writing blends the fast paced in game action with the personal lives of the players well, which I think drives the heart of this film. If you want the spirit of sports mixed with some interesting and well developed characters, you’re safe with any films written or directed by Ron Shelton. Shelton also penned the screenplays for The Great White Hype, Blue Chips, and The Best Of Times, among others. As a director Shelton captures the essence of the street game well and uses angles and position to place the audience in the middle of the action. If you want to see films written and directed by Shelton I recommend Play It To The Bone, Bull Durham, Tin Cup, and Cobb. In the leading roles Wesley Snipes (Passenger 57, Major League) and Woody Harrelson (Natural Born Killers, Money Train) turn in terrific performances and play off each other very well. The vital element here is chemistry and these guys have it in volumes, to be sure. In a very annoying but effective role Rosie Perez (Fearless, Do The Right Thing) shines and many consider this to be her breakthrough performance. The supporting cast also includes Kadeem Hardison (Vampire In Brooklyn, The Sixth Man), Tyra Ferrell (Tapeheads, Jungle Fever), and Kevin Benton (Blue Chips, Celtic Pride).
Video: How does it look?
White Men Can’t Jump is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer. While not as dynamic as some of Fox’s new releases, this visual presentation for this catalog title is quite good and provides the best looking version to date. This is a colorful movie and this transfer replicates the hues well, with no traces of smears and flesh tones which appear natural. The contrast is very good also, with high detail levels and complex shadows. The source print seems to be in acceptable condition and compression errors are minor and infrequent.
Audio: How does it sound?
This isn’t really an audio driven movie, but the surrounds kick in when the soundtrack rolls into town. When the basketball games are present the surrounds also show some life, though not as much as I would have liked. The focus in this mix is on the dialogue, which comes across loud and clear and displays no volume problems at all. This isn’t an impressive mix, but it does provide an acceptable audio experience.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release contains a new cut of the film, which includes a deleted scene edited back into the movie. So while this isn’t in the extras menu, I do feel it counts as a bonus feature. A music video for White Men Can’t Jump by rap artist Riff has also been included, as well as two theatrical trailers and a television spot.
