Baby Boy (John Singleton, 2001)

John Singleton chauffeurs us to 'the hood' for this sobering tale of responsibility, purpose and fear.

The portrait is led by Tyrese, who is shockingly good as a "baby boy", a 20-something momma's boy who still lives at home, gets girls pregnant on the weekends and generally does little if anything at all. Tyrese not only has the brawn for this film, but also a convincing range of emotions, as the "baby boy" cycles through insecurity and bravado. To think, I had only known him beforehand as the comedic relief from 2 Fast 2 Furious.

A talented ensemble of African-American performers fill out the handful of a cast that compliments the contained atmosphere of the film. Each one constructs a character that is colorful, flawed and unsure about their future or purpose in life, all of which is authentic within the confines of their urban prison. Taraji P. Henson is outstanding as the love interest, showing sweetness and goodness that imbues pity for her plight as a virtually single mother.

The only exception is Snoop Dogg's inclusion as a worthless thug. Not only is he given the obligatory yet vile role that is devoid of any positive qualities whatsoever, but Snoop Dogg also manages to inject his breezy star presence. The result is jarring and takes us out of the portrait once he comes on screen. Since it is a Singleton film about 'the hood', I'm not surprised to see Snoop Dogg, since Singleton once hoped to cast the entire group of NWA for Boyz n the Hood, which you might remember Ice Cube from, who clearly did better.

If you've seen Singleton's Boyz n the Hood, the atmosphere won't feel new to you, but it should become a pleasant and more cheerful reunion with Singleton's earnest and meticulous direction. There are clearly several elements that feed Singleton's underlying message. A higher power, divine intervention, 'ghetto' mentalities, the little engine that could and even the Oedipus complex show up as these people tussle with the silly nature of their lives, lives that honestly expect more from them. While these characters borderline on preposterous, it is merely a painful reminder of how troubled, foolish and hypocritical people can be in life. The bonds of friendship and love will take them places. Yes, they will stumble along the way but these inspiring unions are really all they have, unless they improve their lives.

While there will be a moment that makes you think you're watching Boyz n the Hood simply 'shot' through a different lens, fear not, for it is replaced by the smarter choice, albeit capricious and fanciful. The effect casts an uplifting and feel-good message for viewers who can be touched by this cleansing tale. Clearly, Singleton didn't want to rehash old stories and it pays off. Pacing and editing go by undetected in a good way (especially for a 2 hour film) and the figures in this portrait are so shamelessly likable that you can't stop looking at them and wish them the best, hoping they can break away from their repetitive shortcomings.