Film Fridays: “The Preacher’s Kid”

I know it’s Saturday. But apparently, this didn’t post:

I don’t normally watch BET or Black entertainment mainly because at times, I don’t relate to it. I mean, sure, I love watching Black comedies like “The Nutty Professor,” but this movie isn’t a comedy. It’s a drama. Despite having an all-Black cast, I found myself relating to the story. Perhaps it’s the fact that I’m a “preacher’s nephew,” which isn’t as bad as being the “preacher’s kid.” But I understand the pressure and the stereotype. Perhaps it’s the story of redemption and mistakes–we’ve all made mistakes. Whatever the case, you don’t have to be Black to appreciate this kind of movie.  You’ll like the message of the movie.

What I Expected

I didn’t expect much since the film had a low-budget. But I did think it was funny, that after reading stuff off the official movie website, that the character’s names signified something. For example, Angie would probably come from “Angel.” She’s innocent and pure. Then the bad guy in the movie is named “Devlin,” which suspiciously sounds like “Devil.” And then there’s Desiree, or “Desire,” who places a seductress.

What It’s About

LeToya Luckett (who was previously part of Destiny’s Child) plays Angie King, daughter of a preacher in Georgia. She’s tired of being in a Christian bubble and wants to discover life for herself, so she leaves and joins a traveling show in hopes of getting a record contract. But life doesn’t turn out  to be what she expected.

You’ll Like

The singing – I was ready to get my Gospel on. In some scenes, I felt like I was there, singing along in the Black church. There were a lot of singers, aside from LeToya and Tank, there was Trey Songz, Tammy Townsend, and Kierra ‘Kiki’ Sheard.

The hypocrisy – I think it’s a good reminder that Christians are imperfect. They are just as broken, which is why there’s redemption.

The plot – It’s a female version of “The Prodigal Son.” There are just a lot of scenes where I found myself saying “No, don’t choose that.” You feel sorry for  Angie, but it’s her fault for choosing certain things–life is your choice.

The stereotype of being a PK – if you’re a Christian, you pretty much know what I mean.

You’ll Dislike

Melodrama – There were some scenes that definitely needed a lot of drama. But there were other scenes are just had too much, over-the-top drama.

Repetition – The traveling show that Angie is part of is also a female version of “The Prodigal Son.” As a result, the story parallels in a way. I didn’t like that because I felt we were being beaten over the head with the concept. Stories like this one just needs to be its own story–not a story within a story. The concept of  the Prodigal Daughter needs to be subtle.

Character time – I thought that Sharif Atkin’s character should have received more on-screen time. If he’s supposed to be that knight-in-shining-armor, he wasn’t given the opportunity to act like it that much. There are also other supporting actors that should have gotten more on-screen time, like Rae’ven Larrymore Kelly’s character and Kiki Sheard’s character.

Lack of an ultimate showdown – I wanted a stronger turning point, an ultimate showdown that gets you to say, “Yah, and take THAT.”

Rating

I’d give it 3 stars out of 5 for the storyline and it’s willingness to explore some Christian stereotypes. I think LeToya did a remarkable job playing the character when she only had 4 days to research on the character. She was originally supposed to play “Desiree,” the seductress. I’m not a fan of Tank (who plays Devlin) or his acting. In my opinion, there wasn’t much acting–isn’t he a playa in real life anyway? And for a low budget film, I think it was more than what I expected. There were moments where I felt teary-eyed because I saw myself making the mistakes (even if they weren’t the same mistakes the main character made).

And for nostalgia’s sake, I love Essence Atkin’s supporting character role. I remember Essence from “Smart Guy.”

The Prostidude Identity

I heard a jingle on TV today of a famous song from “Annie Get Your Gun” that goes like this: Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you. It’s a fun song that entices competition of the genders. Yes, well when you apply it to one of the world’s oldest professions (and I’m not talking about farming), it can be a little strange. Forgive me, but to describe this profession, I have to use a little Menglish, which writer Griffin Longley describes as “a language used of, by, to, and about men.”

So here it goes:

Prostidude (n): a male prostitute; gigolo (Urban Dictionary)

I bet you didn’t know they exist, but they do. Or, maybe you knew because like me, you’re quite aware of the most famous one of all: Deuce Bigalow, male gigolo.  We’re all about equality, right? So why can’t a guy be a male prostitute? I can see it now, men lined up putting their fists in the air, fighting for equal rights in a woman’s world. And as the world economy goes down the drain, maybe prostitution is the way to go. According to Barbara Ross and Larry McShane of the New York Daily News, despite an economic meltdown, the prostitution business is still up and running and hasn’t really experienced the effects.

So enter 25-year-old “Markus,” America’s (and more specifically, the state of Nevada’s) first legal male prostitute who puts the “bro” in “brothel.” The Shady Lady Ranch hired him after successfully obtaining state and county approval, and since then, the controversy has given him his fifteen minutes of fame and a spot in Nevada history. Markus is not without critics, and perhaps the most ironic come from female prostitutes.

Markus is an ex-marine who did a short stint as a porn actor in Los Angeles, but dropped out because he thought porn degraded women. Great, a prostitute with a conscience. He was homeless and was living on the streets of Santa Monica before he made the move to Nevada. Oh, and he “sees himself as [a] sexual pioneer and likens his role to that of civil rights icon Rosa Parks” (Daily Mail UK). At least he’s active in other things, right?

I applaud New York Post reporter Mandy Stadtmiller who got the exclusive and had to go through great lengths (you’ll understand what I mean) to go where no reporter has gone before. And her article is insightful, especially of Markus’s “mommy issues.” It’s quite entertaining and informative, but if that’s not enough, check out the MSNBC article.

Here I am, tapping my feet to that famous Broadway song again. Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you. Well Markus, sorry bro, but this is a competition you’re probably going to lose.

What do you think? Do you wish him luck?

**Note: I am NOT a supporter of prostitution, male or female. I believe it degrades women (and I guess now, men too) and robs them of their self-worth and their dignity. It saddens me that prostitution still exists after thousands of years in civilizations around the world. As a researcher of modern masculinity, I thought this “prostidude” was an interesting look at how masculinity has changed and perceived today.

She’s the Beauty, and I’m…Okay, I’m the Beast

My girlfriend, Nicole, is gorgeous! Okay, maybe all boyfriends say that of their girlfriends. But what first attracted me to Nicole was her voice. When I hear her sing, a voice of an angel leaves those red lips and my heart skips a beat. At times, I have to pinch myself–maybe I’ve died and gone to heaven? Maybe I’m dreaming. Maybe. But when I look into her brown eyes, I can’t help but feel at peace. My worries and all the stresses of life seem to not matter, as if they’ve evaporated whenever I meet her gaze. Nicole has long brown hair with a tint of red and her hair drops down just below her shoulders. When the sun shines on it, it only enhances her bright smile. Yes, she’s the sunshine that brightens up my day. Nicole is gorgeous! She’s the Beauty, and standing next to her…I’m…okay, I’m the Beast. That’s fine by me.

I just have one problem. Okay, maybe several come to think of it.  First, she hasn’t met me yet. Perhaps, she doesn’t even know I exist. Which leads me to the cold hard truth: she’s not really my girlfriend–I just wish she was. A guy can dream, right? But before you go on thinking she’s some imaginary beauty–she’s not. Nicole is really Britt Nicole, the singer. And I’d like to imagine that I would meet someone like her. Maybe even marry her. Yah, maybe some day.

As more of my friends are getting married at a young age, I can’t help but think of my own prospects. Am I setting my standards to high? Should I settle? Maybe I’m just too darn picky. And as much as I’d like to think that I’m not shallow, I admit that a woman’s beauty reels me in. Yet beauty can be a deception. I’ve met many beautiful girls who turned out to be…how do I put this nicely? Um, some beautiful girls turn out to be the Wicked Witch of the West–deep down they’re horrible. Beauty gets me in, but it’s her personality, her love for others, and her willingness to put others before herself–that’s what would keep me there.

So as I was reading up on one of my favorite blogs, Bakadesuyo (a blog that contains snippets from various research journals that the author of the site found interesting), I came across an entertaining entry. In a way, it’s a “tip” for marriage, but really, it’s a study on the role of physical attractiveness on marriage:

Physical appearance plays a crucial role in shaping new relationships, but does it continue to affect established relationships, such as marriage? In the current study, the authors examined how observer ratings of each spouse’s facial attractiveness and the difference between those ratings were associated with (a) observations of social support behavior and (b) reports of marital satisfaction. In contrast to the robust and almost universally positive effects of levels of attractiveness on new relationships, the only association between levels of attractiveness and the outcomes of these marriages was that attractive husbands were less satisfied. Further, in contrast to the importance of matched attractiveness to new relationships, similarity in attractiveness was unrelated to spouses’ satisfaction and behavior. Instead, the relative difference between partners’ levels of attractiveness appeared to be most important in predicting marital behavior, such that both spouses behaved more positively in relationships in which wives were more attractive than their husbands, but they behaved more negatively in relationships in which husbands were more attractive than their wives. These results highlight the importance of dyadic examinations of the effects of spouses’ qualities on their marriages. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved

It makes sense to me. If the guy is the beauty in the relationship, the girl would feel insecure with her beauty. But if the girl is the beauty, it’s a win-win situation for the guy and the girl.

Anyway, I may not have Brad Pitt’s smile or Taylor Lautner’s body or whatever it is and whoever it is that girls find attractive nowadays. According to the article, that may be a good thing. Now, the real challenge is finding a woman who would settle for this Beast.

However, I do think I look way better than Jack Black. Okay…back to working out.

Film Fridays: “The Edge of Darkness”

I like Mel Gibson and his roles that made him famous (“Mad Max” series, “Lethal Weapon” series, “Braveheart,” “Forever Young”). Though one of the last movies he acted in was 2oo2’s “Signs” directed by M. Night Shyamalan, he kept himself busy as producer and screenwriter, creating successful movies as 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ” and 2006’s “Apocalypto.” When he wasn’t busy with movies, he was busy being in the public eye over alcohol abuse and allegations of anti-Semitism. Well, it seems the public forgive him as he stars in this new movie based from a 1985 BBC series of the same name.

What I Expected

Based on the trailer, I expected lots of action. And of course, because it’s Mel Gibson, I also expected some blood and guts being spilled at some point in the movie.

What It’s About

Thomas Craven (Mel Gibson) is a homicide detective for the Boston Police Department whose daughter is shot down in front of his home. As he tracks down his daughter’s killer he uncovers a larger conspiracy.

You’ll Like

Mel Gibson – I think it’s him at his best. He pulls off the Bostonian accent. And just my luck, this week, I’ve been longing to see Boston and hearing the famous Bostonian accents. I miss Boston; just not the winters. And my, Gibson is old–I see all the wrinkles of a worried father on his face. When he puts on the trench coat and goes interviewing suspects, I can’t help but think of “Columbo.”

Ray Winestone – His character is mysterious, although you can’t help but feel sympathetic for him because you’re unsure whether he is good or evil.

Action sequences – I think it goes to show that even older gentlemen can fight. Oh, and there’s definitely a lot of violence in this movie.

You’ll Dislike

The plot – Okay, we all know that the daughter is dead–it was in the trailer so I haven’t spoiled anything–but in some ways, it reminded me a lot of “Taken.” The grief-stricken dad has nothing to lose so he’s going to go all badass on you. I understand that it’s what a dad is going to do to save his daughter, or in this case to uncover the truth about his daughter. However, the whole conspiracy thing–it’s just been done before. I don’t want to reveal what the conspiracy is, but think about the time period that the original (the tv series) was set in and you’ll have your answer.

The confusion – I was somewhat confused as to who was good and who was bad and at which point of the movie. Maybe conspiracies just confuse me.

Rating

I’d give it 3.5 stars out of 5. Go watch the movie if you like action, mystery, and conspiracy movies. Don’t watch it if you have a weak stomach.

Aborting Tim Tebow’s Superbowl Ad?

“Tim Tebow is a Greek god,” my friend Sandra* said. “Yes–tall, dark, handsome, and a whole lot of man. Wish guys at my school looked like him. I’m definitely going to be paying attention to Florida football from now on.”

“What are you talking about? It’s college basketball season now.” I asked surprisingly. “Besides, I thought you have a crush on Mark Sanchez. He was a Trojan you know, and…” As I turned around, I realized what brought on this random conversation. There was Sandra, going through my collection of books and magazines. In her hands was my September 2009 issue of GQ magazine where Tebow was interviewed and featured.

“Yah, Tebow is bow wow.” Sandra winked. “I’d go to church if I get to see that every Sunday. Are all you Christians this hot?” Then she takes the magazine and points to a close up picture of Tebow wearing John 3:16 eye-black markings.

“Yes,” I answered sarcastically. “Very hot. I mean look at me. Better get those books and magazines away. They catch fire when I’m around.”

Sandra picks up a book, throws it at me, and starts laughing. “You wish.”

Yah, I wish. Sigh. How can a five-foot-seven, 195 pound guy like me supposed to compete with a six-foot-three, 235 pound athletic phenomenon? I know where to pick my fights. Tebow is numero uno, so why try harder? He was the first underclassman (a sophomore at the time) to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy back in 2007. The truth is, I do admire the guy, despite being a Bruin. I kind of have to, at least according to the hilarious Jon Acuff. I commend Tebow for being outspoken about his faith, without getting too preachy or Pat Roberson-ish and not minding all the ridicule or criticisms associated with being a Christian in the public eye. Here’s a guy who genuinely loves Jesus Christ, and can’t help but share that fact with the world. I mean, isn’t that what we all particularly do when we are in love with someone? We want the world to know it. That’s why songs about love are the most common types of songs. And for those who see football as a religion–well, he plays football darn well too. You don’t have to be a Christian to like him–he’s easily likable.

He’s easily likable for many female fans for obvious reasons, but for some women’s groups, that’s another story. And that story first started twenty-two years ago with Tim Tebow’s parents, Bob and Pam. In 1985, the Tebow family moved to the Philippines for a Christian missionary outreach. Unfortunately while pregnant, Pam Tebow drank contaminated drinking wanter and contracted amoebic dysentery. The doctors advised her to get an abortion because the medications that would help her recover could have extreme irreversible effects on the child she was carrying. Pam Tebow chose to keep the baby, and on August 14, 1987, the Tebows welcomed a healthy baby boy. That boy would grow up to be the Heisman Trophy-winning American football quarterback for the Florida Gators, the guy that girls like Sandra dream about, and that guy I can never measure up to.

And now, that boy grew up to star in a controversial Superbowl advertisement coming to a TV near you. Working with Focus on the Family (FOTF), the Tebows finished a commercial highlighting Pam Tebow’s predicament in the Philippines. FOTF spent about $2.8 million on the ad. The Tebows just want to tell their story, but women’s groups believe it’s an anti-abortion ad and urged CBS to pull the ad. Although I can sympathize and understand the women’s groups, I think even if you were pro-choice, you should respect Pam Tebow because she made a choice–she chose life. And to be pro choice means to respect choices that might not agree with your own.

“I know some people won’t agree with it, but I think they can at least respect that I stand up for what I believe … I’ve always been very convicted of it because that’s the reason I’m here, because my mom was a very courageous woman. So any way that I could help, I would do it.” – Tim Tebow

Controversial Superbowl ads are nothing new to Superbowl Sunday. The most controversial ads tend to be the most sex-infused because the Superbowl tends to be a family event. Why aren’t women’s groups making noise about how women are being portrayed in these ads? Well, at least they made some noise over a certain wardrobe malfunction. Should Tebow’s ad have a place with all the other Superbowl ads?

I don’t care. If people are willing to shell out millions of dollars and are abiding to FCC regulations, then shouldn’t they be given a chance to show their ad? Isn’t that the American thing to do?

Tim Tebow knows some people won’t agree with it, and that’s just fine by him. But then again, not many people could say that at one point, their mothers were about to abort them either.

I picked up the book that Sandra threw at placed it on my desk. Then I got my revenge by picking up a dictionary next to me and throwing it at her. Don’t worry–it was a soft cover.

“Ouch,” Sandra said, then started laughing. “See, I’m right. You can never be like Tim Tebow. You throw like a girl.”

*Name change

Sex and Bristol Palin

I have to say, 19-year-old Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah Palin (that famous Alaskan governor who ran for vice president on the Republican ticket) is gorgeous. There’s just something about her eyes and that sweet smile–it just makes me want to stop what I’m doing and get to know her some more. Maybe, I’m just a sucker for brunettes.

Bristol became pregnant during high school and is currently in a custody battle with her ex lover, Levi Johnston, over their 13-month-old son, Trip. Concurrently, she’s become an advocate for teaching teenagers about practicing abstinence rather than having safe sex to avoid getting pregnant. In In Touch Magazine, she say’s “I’m not going to have sex until I’m married…I can guarantee it.” And since then, a huge media firestorm grew when she and her mother appeared on “Oprah” yesterday.

Oprah Winfrey was on her case when she asked Bristol, “Why set yourself up that way? It may be 10 years from now before you choose to get married. Why set yourself up in making that statement so that everybody you go out with, you date — the media is going to be looking at that person, trying to get that person to sell you out, to say, ‘Did you have sex or not.’..It’s nobody’s business when you chose to have sex.”

Palin answered, “I think it’s a goal to have and I think other women should have that goal.”

“Okay, but it’s a goal,” Winfrey said, “But when you make a statement that you are absolutely positively not going to have sex, you don’t think you’re setting yourself up?”

Palin answered, “No, I don’t.”

“Okay, good luck to you,” Winfrey said.

Did you see that sly move that Winfrey was doing? She gave Palin the opportunity to retract her statement and edit it. However, Palin would not budge. Oprah seems to have little faith in Palin. Maybe it’s for good reason. ABC News reported:

• 3 out of 10 high school girls get pregnant.
• Of those that get pregnant, only half actually finish high school.
• 8 out of 10 of the pregnant girls do not get married to the father of their children.

In the very same interview with ABC News, Bristol Palin states, “[Abstinence] is a hard choice. It’s the safe choice. And it’s the best choice.” I have to agree–it’s actually quite logical. How can you be 100% sure that you’ll avoid getting pregnant or be at risk for sexually-transmitted diseases? You abstain from sex, duh!  And you stop promiscuous behavior. It’s plain and simple. But for some teenagers, it’s not that simple–it’s a struggle.

Research has shown that abstinence-only programs have not produced favorable results. And those that take virginity pacts are just as likely to have sex than those who don’t. This is what Oprah Winfrey feared–we would set ourselves up for failure. However, perhaps the real failure of abstinence-only programs is that they don’t educate teenagers about safe sex or contraception. As a result, those teenagers who are in abstinence-only programs and absolutely struggle with sex are more likely to not practice safe sex or contraception. We need a comprehensive program that first teaches abstinence as the 100% sure way of avoiding pregnancy and STDs, but also teach about safe sex and contraception. I think the latter half is what Palin’s campaign against teen pregnancy is missing.

On a side note, teen pregnancy has always been a hot topic on debates about sex education, but it was a year and half ago that the issue became even more intense. In June 2008, the nation was shocked to learn that at Gloucester High, 17 girls were expecting babies. It was then discovered that the girls made a pact to get pregnant by graduation.

What do you think about Palin’s campaign? Is she setting herself up for failure? What  do you think about sex education in America? What would you say to your teenager?

Film Fridays: “The Spy Next Door” Review

I’m a huge fan of the international martial artist-turned actor Jackie Chan. He comes across as a goof ball because he brings comedy into his routines. In many of his fight scenes, you can’t help but be in awe at his acrobatics and stunts, but laugh at the same time. I usually come home entertained.

What I Expected

I thought this movie would be similar to “The Pacifier” and I LOVED that movie because of the chemistry between the kids and Vin Diesel. But of course, it’s a family movie, and I’m sure most of the humor is for kids.

What It’s About

Chinese spy Bobby Ho (Chan) on loan to the CIA falls in love with his next door neighbor Gillian (Amber Valleta), a single mom and retires so he could live a normal life. However, her kids don’t get along with him. And to add to his problems, his espionage past comes back.

You’ll Like

The antics–yep, the same ones that Jackie Chan is famous for. However, there wasn’t anything new fighting-wise. We’ve seen all the moves that Jackie Chan has to offer, so it just seemed sort of recycled. Still funny though.

The kids–you’ll fall in love with them, especially the youngest. They make the movie, especially because of their relationship before and after getting to know Chan’s character.

Asian Male White Female (AMWF) Relationship–yes, score for the Asian male! You never see these kinds of relationships on the silver screen.

Jackie Chan singing–not many people know that he’s a trained opera singer.

You’ll Dislike

The predictability–I don’t think I need to explain this further.

George Lopez and Billy Rae Cyrus–I didn’t know they were going to be in this movie, so it was a complete surprise for me. But they aren’t believable in their roles.

The Villains–yes, I know it’s a kids movie, so I didn’t expect much villainy. But could they please work on their accents?

Rating

I didn’t fall in love with this movie as I did with “The Pacifier” or other movies where a tough guy plays a nanny-type role (“The Kindergarten Cop”). Yes, it was funny. But Chan’s supporting cast (Lopez, Cyrus) is just cheesy. They were probably casted because kids love them and parents could bear with them. Is it worse than Chan’s “The Tuxedo?” It’s definitely close to it. This is the kind of movie you need to watch with your kids, or if you’re simply a Chan fan, don’t shell out the $10–rent the DVD. I give it a 1.5 out 5 stars.