Jumping The Broomby Wilson Morales
Filled with a bevy a talent that includes Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Mike Epps, Loretta Devine, Meagan Good, Tasha Smith, DeRay Davis, Julie Bowen, Romeo Miller, Gary Dourdan, Pooch Hall, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Valarie Pettiford, with Salim Akil making his film directorial debut, ‘Jumping The Broom,’ works because of the scene stealing performances by Epps, Pettiford, and Davis.
Almost all romantic comedies involving a wedding has plenty of drama ranging from the groom and bride going through jitters, to the tension between the future in-laws, yet ‘Broom’ brings in a certain flavor that will appeal to many who are looking for good entertainment.
After a five month courtship, Sabrina Watson (played by Patton) is engaged to marry investment banker Jason Taylor (played by Alonso) at the house of Sabrina’s parents (played by Bassett and Stokes Mitchell) on Martha’s Vineyard. Right from the start tension is building up as Sabrina is anxious to finally meet Jason’s mom (played by Devine), who has her reservations on the upcoming ceremony.
Mrs. Taylor has been caring for Jason all her life and finds it odd that she has never met his girlfriend and has to travel to the island to do so. Keeping up with an old family tradition, she brings the family heirloom, a wedding broom, to the trip, along with Jason’s uncle Willie Earl (played by Epps), cousin Malcolm (played by Davis), and her BFF (played by the hilarious Tasha Smith).
Meanwhile, while Jason waits for his family to arrive, Sabrina’s mom Claudine and father are going through own marital issues, and the arrive of Sabrina’s aunt (played by Pettiford) only make Mrs. Watson more agitated.
When both families finally meet, it’s not so much like the Hatfields versus McCoys, but the tension and the family secrets that unravel prior to the wedding is enough to make Sabrina and Jason think whether the wedding is really best for either of them.
While many many think this is another Tyler Perry production because of the ensemble and the religious overtones, it’s not. Yes, we know how the film will end, but it the middle portion of the film that heats up.
Bassett and Devine bring in their A game as the matriarchs who clash with their upper-class/ working-class lifestyles, while Patton and Alonso ease on by as the typical lovebirds going through the motions before the wedding. The only drawback is that Patton is not a comedian and at times, it felt as she was trying hard to make one laugh.
What makes the film move at a steady pace and keeps it entertaining is the comedy presented by the supporting cast. Having Mike Epps mix both comedy and drama is a rarity, and DeVay Davis is given much more to do than his previous films. Though both of these guys are gifted comedians, Valerie Pettiford is the scene stealer of the film. Each time she come on the screen, be prepare to laugh out loud.
Credit screenwriters Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs for infusing a balance between comedy and drama because with a film filled with so much talent, it’s easy to lose focus on who to give more lines to, or how much do want do they want the audience to laugh or cry. Thankfully, their work was given to the right guy with Salim Akil, who’s shines with his first film after helming episodes of ‘Soul Food’ and ‘The Game’ for so many years.
In the end, the audience will get enough fun coming out of the theater.
