Where do I even start? This movie is such a classic. I've been wearing out Coming to America in my VCR (remember those?) since I was 2 and I have yet to get tired of it. I know every hilarious line from, "The royal penis is clean your highness," to "I've tied my shoes once. It is an overrated experience," to "Sexual Chocolate!"
Eddie Murphy just can't do it like this any more. He's too busy making children's movies and denying his babies and sad things like that. But even though he's lost his funny and replaced it with fat suits, I'll always have a little respect for him playing Prince Akeem.
If you haven't seen Coming to America yet, I'd like you to slap yourself. Then turn off your computer, get in your car, and drive to the nearest Blockbuster. You won't regret it.
This interview was taking during the promotion of I Love You, Man and I think it has to be one of the greatest interviews I've ever seen. It is everything I'd imagine hanging out with Paul and Jason in someone's basement baked out of my mind would be like. Baked or not, these guys find ways to make the most tedious situations (40 or more interviews a day with the interviewers asking the same questions over and over) much more enjoyable.
Despite what you heard, I am not dead. And I promise not to neglect this blog like Madonna neglects her children to go out clubbing. Sweetie, you're 50...go home.
Anyway my throwback is Clueless which is one of my favorite movies from the 90s. It had everything you could ask for. Paul Rudd, funny one liners, awesome outfits and Stacy Dash, that girl who refuses to age. It's one of those movies that you have to stop what you're doing and enjoy every minute of it, and then use it's crap 90s lingo for the next three days.
Maybe it's because I'm a little hormonal, but just watching the trailer for November's Precious (based on the novel Push by Sapphire) alone made me cry. Lord knows how I'm going to act in the theater.
The film premiered at Sundance this January, won 3 awards (including the Special Jury Prize for Mo'Nique), and received rave reviews. There's even Oscar buzz surrounding Mo'Nique. Guess she won't have to be doing anymore Soul Plane movies. Thank God.
The film also stars Paula Patton, Lenny Kravitz, a make up free Mariah Carey, and introduces newcomer Gabourey Sidibe.
Precious is due out November 6th. And be sure to bring a box of tissues.
Remember Foxy Brown before the deafness and nail salon fights? Back when she wore long dresses and rapped with Jay-Z and was all about the Ill Na Na? Yeah, I miss her too. At least she left behind jams like Get Me Home, Candy, and I'll Be.
About ten years ago, I went to Target and bought Bring It On on VHS. My friends and I would recite the cheers in the middle of sixth grade English class. It was cute and funny and I still watch it from time to time.
Now, ten years later, they're still churning out straight to DVD sequels and each one seems to get progressively worse than the last. It's already bad enough E! fills up their empty time slots with Bring It On: All or Nothing, which has got to be one of the most apologetically racist movies that I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. And I've been avoiding the fourth sequel, Bring It On: In It to Win It, like the plague ever since I read about the movie's allusions to West Side Story. (Jets vs. Sharks? Seriously?)
And now there's a fifth -- Bring It On: Fight to the Finish.
"I don't speak Taco Bell menu." Still relying on racial jokes I see. You stay classy, Hollywood.
As I'm sure you're very well aware of, actress Natasha Richardson died yesterday after a skiing accident in Canada. In honor of her, I've decided to dedicate this week's Throwback Thursday to the first time I and many others my age met Natasha: almost 11 years ago in The Parent Trap.
I remember being in awe of her style, beauty and presence. Even as a 10 year old, you could just see how undeniably classy she was. Her death came so sudden and there are no words to describe what a sad tragedy it is.
I have reached that age where I can learn to appreciate my roots. Monica and myself come from different backgrounds and I think that makes us really special. My mother coming from a black and Italian background and my father being Grenadian, while Monica has some German in the midst of her Haitianess. Whatever you're made of, be proud. I will be spending this month watching Baldwin hills and shaking my head at the ideas of BET are just old shows MTV have canceled.
I want to take this time out to mention the other black presidents of America. Yes Barack is president now but he isn't the first.
Dennis Haysbert on 24. He can handle my country and my car insurance? Count me in.
Chris Rock in Head of State. Chris handled shit in this movie including his crazy ex-fiancee.
Barack you have a lot to live up to.
I digress to my real reason of posting so in honor of this month I leave you with Maya Angelou's Still I Rise:
You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may trod me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise.
Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise.
Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries.
Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard 'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard.
You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise.
Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs?
Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.
Ok guys. Holidays are over, school's back in session (at least for me) and its time to get off vacation and back on the blog. How was your holidays? Shitty? Me too.
Anyway, we here at UBH are super excited for one of the first decent looking comedies of 2009, I Love You, Man. This movie involves everything Alex and I love: Paul Rudd, Andy Samberg, Rashida Jones, and Alex's future man, Jason Segel. Oh, and exploding high fives. We love that.
It's like a funny, kinda chick flicky, less dirty Judd Apatow flick, but without the Judd Apatow. I Love You, Man is due out March 20th.
Speaking of movies: The Wackness is out on DVD. Great for all you hip hop fans. Or Drake and Josh enthusiasts.
Unfriendly Black Hotties are two girls who met and became best friends in the 4th grade after bonding over *NSYNC and J-14 magazine. Now while Alex is away at school in New York and Monica stays home in Miami studies film in Orlando, the hotties keep close with YouTube, celeb gossip, and shit talking. And *NSYNC.
