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This rousing basketball drama centers around Tommy "Shep" Sheppard (Leon),a former high school basketball star now haunted by the accidental deathof his best friend, and Kyle Watson (Duane Martin), an arrogant highschool player in danger of slipping into crime. Though Shep avoidscommitment in his life as a security guard, his attraction to Kyle'smother (Tonya Pinkins) draws him out of his protective shell--but Kyle ismore interested in mentorship from Shep's gangster brother Birdie (TupacShakur). Above the Rim is melodramatic but played with grit andenergy by a solid cast, particularly Shakur. Writer-director Jeff Pollackkeeps the story moving and gives the characters enough spin to rescue themfrom being clichés; the result is engaging despite its formulas. Alsofeaturing Bernie Mac and Marlon Wayans. --Bret Fetzer ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Tupac: The Greatest Hood Villain
"Above The Rim" is about a young high school basketball player(Martin) who is drawn into friendship with Birdie(Shakur) in order to play in a streetball tournament on his team. Then he meets Shep(Leon) who works at the high school and is secretly Birdie's brother. Shep starts dating the basketball player's mom and that's when everything goes down. People are killed, beat up, and humiliated.

This movie is really good but the main reason for that is Tupac Shakur. He's one of the best actors to ever play a gangster. Bernie Mac also has a small role as a homeless guy who thinks he can beat anyone in basketball. Marlon Wayans also co-stars as one of Bernie's cronies who is always humiliated.

Anyways the story is amazing and so is the movie. There's cool basketball stunts and a sudden and dramatic movie.

Above the Rim (1994)
Above the Rim is probably the best basketball movie there is. This movie aint like Hoosiers. It has tons of street ball and action. My man 2pac stars in this movie as Birdie, a drug dealer who tries to get a talented high school player named Kyle(Duane Martin) involved in his business and play for their team in a tournament. Kyle has to decide what is best for his future but Birdie and his gang pressure him to join. The basketball scenes are crazy and the music is one the parts that stands out. The theme song played throughout the movie ("Pain" by 2pac) is still one of my favorite songs even though it is almost ten years old. This movie on DVD has the trailer and you can watch it in widescreen. Overall, its better than the VHS. If you havent seen this movie yet then buy it QUICK. R.I.P. 2pac

Pretty Good...
This was a fairly good movie...reasonably realistic and generally entertaining. I'm a big basketball fan, so it was easy for me to enjoy.

highly enjoyable and reasonably realistic
any film maker thinking of doing a hood movie should watch this first,as this is really the way it should be done.im my opinion this is better than boyz in the hood,but then again what do i know eh.it centres around a young man who is good at the game where you throw a ball through a hoop loads of times.so anyway,cue lots of dilemas about which team do i play for,masquerading as thinly vieled mataphors for paths in life.oh yeah,bernie mac plays a tramp....talk about typecasting!!! unbelievably enough, 2pacs in this and its still good!!!! cos 2pacs rubbish,isnt he??or more to the point he was WASNT he...DONT SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD,you grumble.well if you're a 2pac fan you'd think he wasnt dead,wouldnt you?? and that the reason all the rubbish albums with his name on them keep getting released ARENT because....................... anyway im side tracking,this film is well enough written,has a nice enough ending and manages a few twists and turns along the way.i wouldve given it 3 stars,but since the directors etc made something with 2pac in it that was ok it gets and extra star.so 4 outta 5.

ABOVE THE RIM Review
Playing like a big-screen version of MTV's "Rock N' Jock Basketball", ABOVE THE RIM is more flare than substance but that isn't neccessarily a bad thing. Not every urban film needs to provide the harsh narrative morals of films like "Boyz N The Hood". Those expecting a pull-no-punches commentary on young inner-city athletes may want to stick with "He Got Game". "Rim" has heart though. It's predictable and cliche at times but it's still a lot of fun. Having one of the very best soundtracks of the year didn't hurt things either.

"Rim" follows Kyle Waston, one of the hottest high school basketball prospects as he must choose between playing for his overbearing coach or a charismatic local drug dealer in a tournament for city bragging rights. Along the way we learn that the devilish drug pusher is the younger brother of the school's security guard, a former high school star himself who fell from grace after a fatal accident involving one of his friends. Kyle is so manipulated by the money and women being thrown in his direction that he doesn't see that he may be flushing his opportunity down the toilet.

"Above The Rim", much like "Juice" gains so much credibilty from the presence of Tupac Shakur. Pac takes what is in all honesty, a silly and very sterotypical villian and makes him seem so much more. Very few people have the energy and charisma to make it work but he does. The cast certainly holds up their end though as well. Unlike "Juice", the movie can survive without Pac on the screen. Wayans as the goofy Buggalo is a nice touch and Martin and Leon are solid leads.

ABTR is an entertaining film but it plays more like a "very special episode" of FRESH PRINCE than the urban equivallent of HOOSIERS that so many of its fans tend to label it as. The story is very paint-by-numbers and most of the dramatic elements are thrown in for advancement of the story rather than based on a concious decision to show the true consequences of its protaginist's choices. The script is simple and seems to pander to the audience far too much. Much like a TV show, there is conflict but by the end of it all, every character learns a valuable lesson. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Great Fun Movie
A fun movie whose portrayals are not to be taken seriously. There are many memorable scenes and lines. Jamie Foxx is at his best and for the most part, all the main characters do a good job.

The scene where Jamie Foxx and Vivica Fox are speaking Chinese in the restaurant is classic.

A great movie but the stereotypes are so over the top it sometimes feels like you're watching a cartoon.

This would be average...
This would be your average "brothas gotta git some" stereotypical comedy of errors (see "Two Can Play That Game") but Jamie Foxx, damn that man. He's one of the funniest comics alive today, and that's no exaggeration. I love the guy's shtick and the "Bunz" character, which is 100% Jamie Foxx, just makes this a fun romp. I've heard some complaints about the DVD release of this (which I don't own) so be forewarned, the DVD could be a load of rubbish. Don't buy the DVD! There, I've done my public service announcement. Now read the rest of my review.

Fortunately, I had the pleasure of watching this on VHS a few years back.

I honestly don't remember laughing so hard in my life. And 99% of the time I was laughing at Bunz. The other characters, Lysterine (Vivica A. Fox), Rashon (Tommy Davidson) and Nikki (Tamala Jones) are just window dressing. Foxx simply steals every scene he's in. With the exception of the angry lady scene and Bernie Mac's HILARIOUS cameo, oh, and of course, the blatantly stereotypical convenience store clerks, they are just there to act as foils for the impossibly funny Bunz. You know, instead of that big butt on the movie sleeve, they should have put Jamie Foxx's face on the cover. Anyway, minor spoilers ahead. These are my favorite scenes.

The Chinese restaurant! Bunz exchange with the waiter, Bunz speaking Chinese (he learned it from watching Kung Fu movies with...ah, I won't even spoil the joke!)

Bunz doing impressions spot on of William Shatner and Martin Luther King while er...you'll see!

Bottom line: Jamie Foxx is a genius. Don't mind the critics who pass this off as sophomoric. Well, of course it is! But like the editorial review says, it's funny. This will most likely become a cult classic now that Foxx's career is starting to really take off.

Extremely funny
This movie is SOOOOOO funny! You absolutely must see this film. Jamie Foxx and Tommy Davidson (alumni from "In Living Color") have a series of hilarious mishaps on the way to scoring with their girlfriends. Don't miss it!

This is it right here!!!
If your looking for a thoroughly entertaining comedy...look no further. Jamie Foxx...the man!!!!!!!! This movie made me laugh so much....it induced a asthma attack.
Funniest part in the movie - Jamie's accident with the glad wrap.......hilarious!!!

Perfect comedic chemistry lead by Jami Foxx
Comedy is context specific and thus culturally bound, however "Booty Call" taps into universal themes about differences between guys and gals in terms of "us" vs. "them." It's a hoot! I don't like any other movies that get lumped into the same category of "Booty Call" with young black men sworn to "Get Some," but the chemistry between the characters, lead by Jamie Foxx, is so perfect. I would have loved to watch them making this film--there must be some hysterical outakes. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because it's a little too preachy on the "safe sex" message. Besides that message it's a perfect laugh riot. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

Great Fun Movie
A fun movie whose portrayals are not to be taken seriously. There are many memorable scenes and lines. Jamie Foxx is at his best and for the most part, all the main characters do a good job.

The scene where Jamie Foxx and Vivica Fox are speaking Chinese in the restaurant is classic.

A great movie but the stereotypes are so over the top it sometimes feels like you're watching a cartoon.

This would be average...
This would be your average "brothas gotta git some" stereotypical comedy of errors (see "Two Can Play That Game") but Jamie Foxx, damn that man. He's one of the funniest comics alive today, and that's no exaggeration. I love the guy's shtick and the "Bunz" character, which is 100% Jamie Foxx, just makes this a fun romp. I've heard some complaints about the DVD release of this (which I don't own) so be forewarned, the DVD could be a load of rubbish. Don't buy the DVD! There, I've done my public service announcement. Now read the rest of my review.

Fortunately, I had the pleasure of watching this on VHS a few years back.

I honestly don't remember laughing so hard in my life. And 99% of the time I was laughing at Bunz. The other characters, Lysterine (Vivica A. Fox), Rashon (Tommy Davidson) and Nikki (Tamala Jones) are just window dressing. Foxx simply steals every scene he's in. With the exception of the angry lady scene and Bernie Mac's HILARIOUS cameo, oh, and of course, the blatantly stereotypical convenience store clerks, they are just there to act as foils for the impossibly funny Bunz. You know, instead of that big butt on the movie sleeve, they should have put Jamie Foxx's face on the cover. Anyway, minor spoilers ahead. These are my favorite scenes.

The Chinese restaurant! Bunz exchange with the waiter, Bunz speaking Chinese (he learned it from watching Kung Fu movies with...ah, I won't even spoil the joke!)

Bunz doing impressions spot on of William Shatner and Martin Luther King while er...you'll see!

Bottom line: Jamie Foxx is a genius. Don't mind the critics who pass this off as sophomoric. Well, of course it is! But like the editorial review says, it's funny. This will most likely become a cult classic now that Foxx's career is starting to really take off.

Extremely funny
This movie is SOOOOOO funny! You absolutely must see this film. Jamie Foxx and Tommy Davidson (alumni from "In Living Color") have a series of hilarious mishaps on the way to scoring with their girlfriends. Don't miss it!

This is it right here!!!
If your looking for a thoroughly entertaining comedy...look no further. Jamie Foxx...the man!!!!!!!! This movie made me laugh so much....it induced a asthma attack.
Funniest part in the movie - Jamie's accident with the glad wrap.......hilarious!!!

Perfect comedic chemistry lead by Jami Foxx
Comedy is context specific and thus culturally bound, however "Booty Call" taps into universal themes about differences between guys and gals in terms of "us" vs. "them." It's a hoot! I don't like any other movies that get lumped into the same category of "Booty Call" with young black men sworn to "Get Some," but the chemistry between the characters, lead by Jamie Foxx, is so perfect. I would have loved to watch them making this film--there must be some hysterical outakes. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because it's a little too preachy on the "safe sex" message. Besides that message it's a perfect laugh riot. ... Read more

Reviews (34)

Semi--Funny, unrealistic, and stupidly predictible.
David Spade was funny in Tommy Boy and even funnier in Black Sheep, but without Chris Farley at his site he fails in this. The movie is about a loser who falls inlove with his new neighbor and kidnaps her dog to get her attention. The sick and unrealistic thing is that they actually get closer from this, you can see jokes coming from a mile away in this lame unrealastic plotHow can any say this is a romantic comedy? Whats romantic about stealing a womens puppy? And another thing, why don't the two actors playing the french people speak french in the scenes where they are alone? I never saw the end of this but I already knew what was gonna hap... he gets the girl. David Spade and Artie Lange have some real funny parts, but they can't save this miserably script (which Spade co-wrote) This just missed getting pne star because its so terrible its almost funny, but almost is the key word.

Is there a better choice?
Is there a better choice for a leading man in today's current crop of Hollywood hunks than David Spade? Not likely. I'm giving this movie four stars out of five only because David never goes starkers onscreen. Then, this movie would be bar none, the best film ever! Witty dialogue, well developed characters, and the classic story of boy stalks hot chick, boy steals hot chick's dog, hot chick finds boy mildly tolerable, boy lip syncs a Neil Diamond song, hot chick finds out boy stole her dog from smarmy foreign boyfriend, boy apologizes, hot chick marries him for a green card. Fresh off her winning performance in Braveheart, Sophie Marceau is serviceable as Spade's love interest and concert cellist. She didn't know how lucky she is to act alongside such a talent. First rate comedy fun!

Only for David Spade's Biggest Fans
David Spade plays the typical David Spade character here: a smarmy, semi-witty wise guy who is deeply self-involved and frequently unscrupulous. Sophie Marceau plays a cellist with a little dog. Guess who takes her dog so that he can "find" it and earn her gratitude? Guess whether anything will go wrong with the old-hat plan? Guess who eventually gets on Mlle Marceau's good side? So much for the "plot." As a comedy, this is pretty tired stuff. Sadly, to prep the ever-adorable Sophie Marceau for her part as a cello virtuoso, the director seems to have had her coached in bowing and fingering for about five minutes. ... Of course, we usually don't go to comedies or heroic adventure films for the realistic musicianship of the actors--but the sloppiness of this element in THIS film is just one more insult to the audience. After all, duh, the e-a Marceau is supposedly playing a professional cellist.

Not as bad as it looks
I was unsure about this movie. It looked pretty stupid. After a while I started to like it. It was funny (some parts were disgusting). Spade is charming, as charming as he can be. It mixes humor with a loving feeling, much like other Spade movies (Joe Dirt). The best part was that Norm McDonald was nowhere to be seen.

Great comedy, with a good heart, and that David Spade touch!
This movie is a real keeper, folks. I know it didn't do too well in theaters, but GIVE IT A CHANCE!

Lost & Found is the story of a restaurant owner (spade) named Dylan Ramsey, who is doing okay with his cafe, but not so well in the ladies department. He goes through one meaningless relationship after another, until he meets Lila, his new, cello playing neighbor who moves from France with her dog, Jack. Dylan fails to get any sort of attention from this girl until he decides to kidnap her dog, in order to spend time with and get to know her. Humor ensues, romance ensues. All-in-all, a great, fun romantic comedy that i recommend to anyone. ... Read more