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Amazon.co.uk Review
The tricky topic of interracial romance gets a sexy, charming, and unexpectedly realistic treatment in Something New. Kenya (Sanaa Lathan, Out of Time, Alien Vs. Predator), a successful accountant, gets set up on a blind date with Brian (Simon Baker, The Ring Two)--only to discover that he's white, leading her to cut the date short. At a party, Kenya admires the garden and gets introduced to the landscape architect: Brian. Thus begins a bumpy but increasingly sparky relationship, despite opposition from Kenya's friends and family, as well as Kenya and Brian's own internal resistance. Make no mistake, Something New is a mainstream romantic comedy, with ridiculously attractive people grappling with problems that get solved with just a little too much ease--but along the way, Kriss Turner's script, Sanaa Hamri's direction, and Baker's and especially Lathan's performances ground the movie in something resembling the real world. Kenya's and Brian's emotional terrain has a genuine texture to it; the rhythm of the dialogue and the visual pacing allows their characters to breathe and become more genuine and vivid than your standard rom-com lovers. The strong supporting cast--including Alfre Woodard (Crooklyn), Donald Faison (Scrubs), Mike Epps (Next Friday), and Blair Underwood (Full Frontal)--doesn't hurt. But Lathan owns the movie; this actress deserves true stardom. --Bret Fetzer
Synopsis
Kenya (Sanaa Lathan) is a beautiful, successful lawyer with loving parents and a close-knit group of supportive friends--but, predictably, no love life to speak of. Out for drinks on Valentine’s Day, she and her girlfriends lament the difficulty of finding the ‘ideal black man’ (successful, educated, and attractive), and the point is driven home when a co-worker sets Kenya up on a blind date with a successful, educated, and attractive landscape architect named Brian (Simon Baker)--who turns out to be, to her surprise and dismay, white. While Kenya at first tries to deny their obvious attraction, the two soon start a relationship; and though they have undeniable chemistry, cultures clash. The plot of Something New is not, in fact, actually new, combining many of the usual truisms of romantic comedies and interracial dramas. In fact, with his too-good-to-be-true personality (sensitive yet strong, working with his hands yet educated, determined yet patient), Brian is reminiscent of Sidney Poitier’s John in Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, a man so perfect that no critic could find anything to object to beyond his race. But top-to-bottom excellent performances from an extremely talented cast make the characters three-dimensional and save the movie from cliche. Lathan’s radiant, skilful performance manages to display all of Kenya’s many neuroses and flaws, even her occasional rudeness, without ever allowing her to become unlikable. Blair Underwood--as Brian’s main competition--miraculously manages to make his attractive, suave character somewhat unappealing. The actors, working with Sanaa Hamri’s sure-handed and inventive direction (in her feature film debut, no less), give the movie a lively spark and likeability that elevate it above its genre conventions.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
34 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this movie three times at the cinema when I was in America last year. It was beautiful, thoughtprovoking and heartwarming. It was superbly shot and very classy. The actors brought a subtle movie to life with real care and sensitivity. The growing attraction between Kenya and Brian sizzles. I just loved it, buy it now, you won't regret it.
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I saw this advertised on Eonline last year and it took almost a year for it to be released here but finally here it is. As before Kenya is an Alpha female driven to succeed in a white male dominated work whilst trying to find her Ideal Black Man.
However after the end of her last relationship she decided to stop dating and concerntrate on her work and buying her first house. After celebrating Valentines night with her friends she agrees to go on a blind date organised by a work colleague. The only problem is that not only is her blind date a Landscape Architect but he is also white. But after she bolts from her date with Brian Kelly she hires him to landscape her sadly neglected garden.
The two build first a friendship which depends into more but can Kenya overcome not only her own objections but that of society around her in letting Brian into her life. Of course this is a romantic comedy so you don't have to guess to much at the ending. But I am glad to say that this is one of the few romcom's I have seen recently that actually had some chemistry amongst its stars. A well thoughtout script looking at interracial dating today and tackels the issues mainly from Kenya and her families point of view which is a rarity. A lovely gem of a movie.
However after the end of her last relationship she decided to stop dating and concerntrate on her work and buying her first house. After celebrating Valentines night with her friends she agrees to go on a blind date organised by a work colleague. The only problem is that not only is her blind date a Landscape Architect but he is also white. But after she bolts from her date with Brian Kelly she hires him to landscape her sadly neglected garden.
The two build first a friendship which depends into more but can Kenya overcome not only her own objections but that of society around her in letting Brian into her life. Of course this is a romantic comedy so you don't have to guess to much at the ending. But I am glad to say that this is one of the few romcom's I have seen recently that actually had some chemistry amongst its stars. A well thoughtout script looking at interracial dating today and tackels the issues mainly from Kenya and her families point of view which is a rarity. A lovely gem of a movie.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
At last, a film that addresses the pain, pitfalls and pleasures of inter-racial love - from the perspectives of a black woman/white man. For some reason society and the media very rarely depict such unions. This is a shame. The film itself is bold enough to tackle the barbed subject of race and racism - especially the prejudice experienced by black women from within the workplace and, crucially, from their own peers/community. Writing as a white man married to a black Nigerian woman I can identify totally with the issues raised within 'Something New'. It is a very good movie indeed, one that accurately highlights the moral dilemma that black women have to face: sleeping with the 'enemy'. If anyone found this film interesting may I respectfully suggest you check out the book my wife and I wrote:One Love Two Colours: The Unlikely Marriage of a Punk Rocker and His African Queen - the true story of our life together.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
it is a PG
the story line is what you would expect from the cover/film details... black girl meets white boy... Read more
Published 2 months ago by nomz
Wrong DVD in box
Odered DVD 'Something New, when I broke the seal opened it up it had another DVD in the box which titled THE TRUTH ABOUT LOVE. Read more
Published 5 months ago by cj
Feel good movie
This movie always makes me smile, laugh and cry every time I watch it. I love Sanaa and Simon's chemistry they work so well together in this movie.
Published 5 months ago by Runlikemad
Brill!
I love this film and watch it again and again. It is funny and romantic and I love the soundtrack. It definitely lifts my mood
Published 11 months ago by panamarules
Something else
Again I didnt expect much from this film but thoroughly enjoyed it. Funny, nice rom com. Would recommend it to Simon Baker and rom com fans. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Deb
Could have gone a lot deeper.
This movie had the ability to be great, I mean really great. Dating for black women has been done time and time again but never from an inter racial perspective and I was hoping... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Gabriella Christina
Love is?..........
I think that this film was very good, sometimes we don't know what love is going to be package in.
Kenya had set standards of what man she would date, but was not prepared for... Read more
Kenya had set standards of what man she would date, but was not prepared for... Read more
Published 20 months ago by Shemiah
Terrific!
How many films do you know that combine very sharp social observation with a sweet romantic storyline? This is one of those rarities. And the Mentalist, absolutely adorable!
Published 20 months ago by A. Minasyan
Wonderful film
I saw Simon Baker and Sanaa Lathan on Oprah a few years ago talking about this film,so when i saw it for sale on amazon recently, I decided to buy it and am so very glad I did! Read more
Published 20 months ago by bebe
Something New
Fantastic story that will leave you thinking!
Make sure you have enough pop corn for the family and be ready to laugh out loud.
Will recommend it, definately!
Make sure you have enough pop corn for the family and be ready to laugh out loud.
Will recommend it, definately!
Published 20 months ago by S. S. I. Kamara
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