Woo (film)

Last updated
Woo
Woo 1998 Film Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer
Written byDavid C. Johnson
Produced by
  • Beth Hubbard
  • Michael Hubbard
Starring
CinematographyJean Lépine
Edited by
  • Janice Hampton
  • Nicholas Eliopoulos
Music by Michel Colombier
Production
company
Distributed by New Line Cinema
Release dates
  • May 8, 1998 (1998-05-08)(United States)
  • September 25, 1998 (1998-09-25)(United Kingdom)
  • July 2, 1999 (1999-07-02)(Italy)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million
Box office$8,165,984 [1]

Woo is a 1998 romantic-comedy film directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer and starring Jada Pinkett Smith in the title role. Tommy Davidson also co-stars.

Contents

Plot

Darlene "Woo" Barnes (Smith), an extroverted woman living in New York City, is notoriously talented at turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (Girlina) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it is true. Celestrial is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette (Paula Jai Parker) and Claudette's boyfriend Lenny (Dave Chappelle) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Davidson) to take Woo out, but the shy, strait-laced law clerk Tim contrasts the sassy and brassy Woo. The same night, Lenny and Claudette's night goes wrong when his obsession with chicken drives her to be forced to dress up as a sexy but awkward "chicken ho" (he makes her cluck and walk like a chicken) but she is allergic to feathers.

At first, Woo is unconcerned about the matchmaking mismatch, but when told that Tim is a Virgo, she decides it is fate, jumps at the chance, and immediately heads for Tim's apartment. Meanwhile, Tim, who can't believe his luck, goes next door to his neighbor Darryl (LL Cool J) for tips on romancing women. Darryl supplies Tim with incense, edible body oils, and a tape of sexy songs. When Woo arrives, Tim is completely smitten. Woo, however, discovers that Tim is far from her imagined sexy, spontaneous stud. Seeing through Tim's pseudo-cool act, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to leave Tim's apartment when Tim is visited by three of his pals: Frankie (Duane Martin), Hop (Darrel Heath), and Romaine (Michael Ralph). The trio's chauvinistic attitude irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks them out by acting insane. Finally, the date gets underway. Woo and Tim arrive at a stuffy Italian restaurant, but Woo's behavior gets them thrown out. They go to a dance club, where Tim is punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend, whom Woo punches back. Tim repeatedly suffers many other misfortunes, but Woo realizes that Tim is the guy she wants. After Tim gets his car back, it is smashed to pieces. Woo offers to share her car and her life with Tim.

Cast

Reception

The film was met with negative reviews from critics. [2] [3] It holds a 10% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews, with an average score of 3.7/10. [4] Derek Armstrong at Allmovie, while giving positive reviews to stars Davidson and Smith's performances, stated that the script was "formulaic", and that the film in general was "not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet." [5] Made on a budget of $13 million, the film grossed $8 million domestically, making it a box-office flop. [6] It was, however, a success when released on home video.

Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on May 5, 1998 through Epic Records. It peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Will Smith</span> American actor and rapper (born 1968)

Willard Carroll Smith II is an American actor, rapper and film producer. He has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and four Grammy Awards. As of 2024, his films have grossed over $9.3 billion globally, making him one of Hollywood's most bankable stars.

<i>Bamboozled</i> 2000 American film

Bamboozled is a 2000 American satirical black comedy-drama film written and directed by Spike Lee about a modern televised minstrel show featuring black actors donning blackface makeup and the resulting violent fallout from the show's success. It features an ensemble cast including Damon Wayans, Jada Pinkett Smith, Savion Glover, Tommy Davidson, and Michael Rapaport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jada Pinkett Smith</span> American actress (born 1971)

Jada Koren Pinkett Smith is an American actress, singer and talk show host. She is co-host of the Facebook Watch talk show Red Table Talk, for which she has won a Daytime Emmy Award. Time named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2021.

<i>Set It Off</i> (film) 1996 film directed by F. Gary Gray

Set It Off is a 1996 American heist crime action film directed by F. Gary Gray and written by Kate Lanier and Takashi Bufford. The film stars Jada Pinkett, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox, and Kimberly Elise. It follows four close friends in Los Angeles, California, who plan to execute a bank robbery—each doing so for different reasons—to achieve better for themselves and their families.

<i>G.I. Jane</i> 1997 film by Ridley Scott

G.I. Jane is a 1997 American action drama film directed by Ridley Scott and starring Demi Moore, Viggo Mortensen, and Anne Bancroft. The film tells the fictional story of the first woman to undergo special operations training similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs.

Paula Jai Parker is an American actress. She is best known for her supporting roles in the films Friday (1995), Sprung (1997), Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998), Phone Booth (2002), Hustle & Flow (2005), and Idlewild (2006), and for her roles on television sitcoms The Wayans Bros. (1995-1996), Family Time (2012-2019), Hollywood Divas (2014-2016), Ray Donovan (2016), Black Jesus (2019), A House Divided (2019-2022), and Queen Sugar (2021). Parker is also known for her voice of Trudy Proud in the Disney Channel animated comedy series, The Proud Family (2001-2005), which she reprised in the 2005 TV Movie The Proud Family Movie, and its 2022 reboot, The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Questlove</span> American hip hop musician (born 1971)

Ahmir K. Thompson, known professionally as Questlove, is an American drummer, record producer, disc jockey, filmmaker, music journalist, and actor. He is the drummer and joint frontman for the hip-hop band the Roots. The Roots have been serving as the in-house band for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon since 2014, after having fulfilled the same role on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Questlove is also one of the producers of the 2015 cast album of the Broadway musical Hamilton. He has also co-founded of the websites Okayplayer and OkayAfrica. He joined Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at New York University as an adjunct professor in 2016, and hosts the podcast Questlove Supreme.

<i>Jasons Lyric</i> 1994 film directed by Doug McHenry

Jason's Lyric is a 1994 American erotic romantic psychological drama film, written by Bobby Smith Jr., directed by Doug McHenry, who co-produced the film with George Jackson and Marilla Lane Ross, and starring Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett, Bokeem Woodbine, Treach, Eddie Griffin, Lahmard Tate, Lisa Nicole Carson, and Forest Whitaker. Set in Third Ward, Houston, Texas, the story is about two mentally scarred brothers who choose different paths in dealing with their tragic childhood. When the older brother found love, he starts facing tough choices: continue to feel family responsibility for his younger brother, or follow his heart to be with his girlfriend.

<i>The Inkwell</i> 1994 American film

The Inkwell is a 1994 romantic comedy-drama film directed by Matty Rich. The film stars Larenz Tate, Joe Morton, Suzzanne Douglass, Glynn Turman, Jada Pinkett and Vanessa Bell Calloway.

<i>Kingdom Come</i> (2001 film) 2001 film by Doug McHenry

Kingdom Come is a 2001 American comedy-drama film, written by David Dean Bottrell and Jessie Jones, and directed by Doug McHenry. This film stars LL Cool J, Jada Pinkett Smith, Vivica A. Fox, Anthony Anderson, Toni Braxton, Whoopi Goldberg, Loretta Devine, and Darius McCrary.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keke Palmer</span> American actress, singer, and television personality (born 1993)

Lauren Keyana "Keke" Palmer is an American actress, singer, television host, and author. She is known for playing both leading and character roles in comedy and drama productions. Palmer has received several accolades, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and five NAACP Image Awards; along with nominations for a Daytime Emmy Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Time magazine included her on their list of most influential people in the world in 2019.

Nicci Gilbert is an American R&B singer. She is mainly known for being the lead vocalist of an American female R&B girl-group Brownstone who rose to fame in the mid 1990s best known for their 1995 hit single "If You Love Me", which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy Award. "Grapevyne" and "Pass the Lovin'" also brought them some success, as well as their rendition of "I Can't Tell You Why", a song originally recorded by The Eagles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jaden Smith</span> American rapper and actor (born 1998)

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith is an American rapper and actor. The son of Jada Pinkett-Smith and Will Smith, he has received various accolades, including a Teen Choice Award, an MTV Movie Award, a BET Award and a Young Artist Award. He has received a Grammy Award nomination, and has won two NAACP Image Awards and an Empire Award.

Rebecca Field is an American actress. She is best known for her role as Lacey Jean-Locklin in the Lifetime drama series The Client List. She is also known for the role of Gail in the 2018 film A Star Is Born.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zoë Kravitz</span> American actress (born 1988)

Zoë Isabella Kravitz is an American actress. She made her acting debut in the romantic comedy film No Reservations (2007). Her breakthrough came with portraying Angel Salvadore in the superhero film X-Men: First Class (2011), and she had further franchise roles in The Divergent Series (2014–2016) and the Fantastic Beasts film series (2016–2018).

<i>CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story</i> American TV series or program

CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story is a 2013 American biographical television film about the R&B and hip hop musical trio TLC. Directed by Charles Stone III, written by Kate Lanier, and named after the group's 1994 album CrazySexyCool, the film stars Keke Palmer as Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Niatia "Lil Mama" Kirkland as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and Drew Sidora as Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins. The real-life Thomas and Watkins also served as executive producers of the film.

<i>Magic Mike XXL</i> 2015 film by Gregory Jacobs

Magic Mike XXL is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed by Gregory Jacobs, written by Reid Carolin and starring Channing Tatum, Matt Bomer, Kevin Nash, and Joe Manganiello. A sequel to 2012's Magic Mike, the film premiered in Hollywood on June 26, 2015, and was released theatrically in the United States on July 1, 2015, by Warner Bros. Pictures. It received lukewarm reviews from critics and grossed $117.8 million worldwide. A third film, Magic Mike's Last Dance, was released in February 2023.

<i>All Eyez on Me</i> (film) 2017 film by Benny Boom

All Eyez on Me is a 2017 American biographical drama film directed by Benny Boom. Titled after the 1996 studio album, as well as the song of the same name, it is based on the life and death of the titular American rapper Tupac Shakur. The film stars Demetrius Shipp Jr. as Tupac, with Kat Graham, Lauren Cohan, Hill Harper, and Danai Gurira. Jamal Woolard reprises his role as Christopher "Biggie Smalls" Wallace / The Notorious B.I.G. from Notorious (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Rock–Will Smith slapping incident</span> Live-television incident in 2022

During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, actor Will Smith walked onstage and assaulted comedian Chris Rock by slapping him across the face during Rock's presentation for Best Documentary Feature. The slap was in response to an unscripted joke Rock made about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head, which was a result of alopecia: Rock said that he "can't wait to see" Pinkett Smith in a sequel to G.I. Jane, in which Demi Moore's titular character has a shaved head. Smith then returned to his seat and shouted profanely at Rock, who briefly responded before completing his presentation without further interruption.

References

  1. "Woo". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.com. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  2. "'Woo' Loaded With Attitude, Vulgarity". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  3. "FILM REVIEW; Brawling, Humiliation And Theft, All on the First Date". The New York Times . Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. "Woo (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. Armstrong, Derek. "Woo (1998)". Allmovie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  6. "Deep Impact Exceeds Expectations". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 2012-05-31.