Why The Wood Still Holds Up 25 Years Later

 

In the summer of 1999 blockbusters films such as The Mummy, Wild Wild West, American Pie, and Blair Witch Project were released. Amidst the crowd was a low budget coming of age movie called The Wood. This week marked the 25th anniversary of The Wood and the film is a hidden gem in the world of cinema that is in all actuality a classic.

The film features present day best friends Mike (Omar Epps), Roland (Taye Diggs), and Slim (Richard T. Jones) tryna make it to Roland's wedding as he goes awol earlier in the day. Throughout they reminisce about their time growing up. That's where the heart of the movie comes into featuring young Mike (Sean T. Nelson), young Roland (Trent Cameron), and young Slim (Duane Finley).

The three friends truly come of age in the flashback scenes. Learning about life via crushes, losing their virginity, tips to talk to young ladies and staying out of trouble. They also frequently crack on each other which is what friends do.

The movie is not only a coming of age story for young Black males. It also is about brotherhood and that foundation that its built on. You truly believe these guys have been friends for years. Message of the film aside, it is a damn funny movie regarding everyday life. It also had a soundtrack that could be in the conversation as one of the best movie soundtracks ever. 

First seeing the film when I was 13 Years old, I thought it was enjoyable, and relatable with some of the puberty jokes. Now as a adult I really appreciate the movie for capturing the magic that is young friendships/brotherhoods, especially amongst young Black men.

25 Year's later, I will still watch the movie and laugh like it's my first time seeing it. I'll randomly say in a down south accent "Stacey!", and discuss the benefits of tic tacs.

And forever stand around and say the words Mackin and hanging.

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5 Hidden Gem Black Romantic Comedies

 

It's that time again when love is in the air. Dudes that have been slacking all year go overboard, while everyone else either celebrates or says I love you and keep it moving. However you celebrate Valentine's Day with your significant other. You can never go wrong with a good movie to watch.

For every Boomerang, Love Jones, and Love & Basketball. There are a abundance of Black led romance films, that for whatever reason many haven't heard of or it just didn't get its due. With that, here are five hidden gem Black romance movies.

5. Strictly Business

I wrote a blog on this back in 2021 to celebrate the film's 30th anniversary. I'm adding it to this list because this is one film I will die on a hill trying to get people to see it.

It's a simple love story with partnerships, 90's vibes and New Jack Swing mixed in. Give a chance and you can learn some lessons in it.

4. The Perfect Match

Starring Cassie and Terrance J, The Perfect Match was released in 2016. Terrance J. plays Charlie a modern day noncommittal womanizer. He meets Eva played by Cassie a talented and mysterious singer/actress.

Soon enough they start kicking it and Charlie realizes he wants a bit more of their relationship. The film has a good message of not setting expectations when initially meeting and dating someone, and go with it to see how it goes.

3. Disappearing Acts

Disappearing Acts is a 2000 HBO original movie stars Sanaa Lathan and Wesley Snipes, based on a book from Terry McMillan. Sanaa and Wesleys characters are on opposite ends of the educational and career spectrum.

Upon starting a relationship they navigate bumps and bruises. Withholding information and encouraging one another. Find this hidden gem and give it a shot.

2. Sprung

Sprung is one of those films either you've seen it or you haven't. Talking to people it seems a lot more folks haven't seen than have. Released in 1997 the film follows Montel (Rusty Cundieff who also wrote and directed) and Brandy (Tisha Campbell Martin) who start a blossoming romance. While they're friends Clyde (Joe Torry) and Adina (Paula Jai Parker) who fell apart after a one night stand based on lies, seek out to sabotage the relationship as it gets serious.

The film is about true love overcoming obstalces near and far. It's by no means a laugh out loud or great film, but it has some endearing qualities about relationships.

1. Southside With You

Southside With You is a simple romantic film that was released in 2016 to substantial buzz. Set in 1989, the film follows future president Barack Obama played by Parker Sawyer, going on a first date with his future wife and first Lady Michelle Obama (Tika Sumpter).

Both are ambitious young individuals but that's not what the film focuses on. Instead it shows their walk through the park, museum visits and late night treat of ice cream. Simple things that build connections to lead to long term relationships. Even with the buzz, the film wasn't a box office hit or even a cult classic afterwards. It has a message about seeing the potential in someone even if they aren't there yet.

Watch the movie you may learn a thing or two.

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Five Black 2000's Sitcoms You Forgot About

It's Black History Month, so I decided to kick it off by bringing to light some Black led Sitcoms from the 2000's you may not remember.

With all of the entertainment options out there it is easy for those that didn't make an impact to be forgotten as time goes on. As such here are 5 Black 2000's sitcoms you probably forget.

Meth & Red

In the summer of 2004 FOX came up with an idea that was ahead of its time. Year round first run programming. To help kick off that endeavor they gave rappers Method Man and Redman a show.

The single camera comedy followed the two rappers as fictional versions of themselves. They move into a mansion in a predominantly white neighborhood, and there goes the neighborhood. 

The shows tone was slapstick and zany and only lasted one season. Method and Red were unhappy with  how Fox presented the show and got into a heated feud with them. Making the show easily forgettable in the minds of many.

Tracy Morgan Show

Before his true star making role on 30 Rock, or his hilarious sitcom The Last O.G.. Tracy Morgan had a short lived sitcom on NBC after leaving Saturday Night Live.

The sitcom debuted in December of 2003 and ran for 18 years. It had a solid supporting cast with Tamala Jones, comedy legend John Witherspoon, and Heavy D. Katt Williams before his career really blew up was also a member of the cast.

Whole funny, the show sadly didn't catch on for some particular reason. Which is a shame as it slowly fading if the memory banks of people.

All About The Anderson's

Before he starred in the now classic sitcom Black-ish, Anthony Anderson was still a consistently working comedian and actor still looking for his big break. The WB network attempted to give him that with All About The Andersons.

Debuting in the fall of 2003, the sitcom followed Anderson as a struggling single dad who moves back in with his parents. He soon realizes that was a bad mistake. I honestly remember watching the show, but don't remember much about it. So it didn't leave an impact and it's easy to understand why it's not well-known.

The Big House

Katt Williams gave this sitcom some notoriety and refreshed some folks minds when he went on his Club Shay Shay spiel. In case that didn't refresh your memory I'll help you out.

Just before Kevin Hart's "star making" role in Soul Plane. He starred in a sitcom that only lasted for six complete episodes. It debuted on ABC in April of 2004. The sitcom was Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in reverse, Hart was a wealthy young man who due to some bad decisions by his parents. Basically was broke and forced to move to Philadelphia with his middle-class family.

The sitcom premise had potential, but I don't remember it being overly funny. It took Hart a few more years to become the rock star comedian he is today. Which means this blip of a sitcom in his career has been long forgotten.

Wanda At Large

In my opinion Wanda Skyes is funny, but her style of humor is acquired taste funny. You have to enjoy a certain type of comedy or be in the mood for it. She learned her style doesn't work for everyone with her TV show Wanda At Large.

The sitcom debuted on Fox in spring of 2003, with its episodes spilt in half to create two seasons before being canceled in the fall of 2003.

Skyes played a former D.C. government employee who becomes a local political commentator on a station, while becoming a stand up comedian. Like I said her style just isn't for everyone, and it shows which is why most don't remember this show.

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30 Years of Martin: My 10 Favorite Episode's

 Today marks 30 years of my favorite sitcom "Martin". Starring Martin Lawrence, the show was a cornerstone of upstart TV network Fox. With an unmatched chemistry from the cast, non stop laughs. These simple words define the show legendary, iconic, game changing. There will never be another sitcom like Martin.

I have seen every episode hundreds of time, even the lackluster fifth season. Heres my top 10 episodes.

10. Really Gina Is Not My Lover

This season 2 episode focuses on Martin attending his 10 year high school reunion, with a focus on getting back at everyone who did him wrong in high school. Including Ricky Fontaine "Pretty Ricky" what they called him. Martin's goal to show up everyone is interrupted when Gina fresh off of an allergic reaction shows up to stand by her man.

9. No Justice, No Peace

This season 2 episode sees Martin deciding to fight a traffic ticket in court on his own. What follows is a hilarious range of banter between Martin, his close pals, and even the judge. The two most iconic scenes in this episode are finding out what GTD stands for, and Martin pleading insanity and acting upon it to escape any charges. 

Everytime this episode is on I stop what I'm doing and watch it.

8. Suspicious minds

Season 2 episode Martin buys a brand new CD player that turns up missing. Martin then takes a Don't Trust Anybody approach and become's a detective interrogating his friends. Eventually taking inspiration from New Jack City, he call's a meeting with his friends in all black and his stuffed dog.

Which lead's to this scene that if you don't laugh you need to check your pulse. Even Thomas Ford who play's Tommy is trying his best to keep his composure together with Martin's antics.

7. I Don't Have The Heart

Pam dates a older very rich man and Martin reaps the benefits. While Gina feels the dynamics of the  relationship is off. This episode was a fun poke at people getting into relationships without really knowing the other person. Marrying for money, and having friends with deep pockets and connections opening up a new whole lifestyle for some.

Martin without him realizing him becomes a third wheel in the relationship. He almost has a nervous breakdown when he's loses access to the suite at the Pistons game.

6. Momma's Baby, Martin's Maybe

A little boy named Marvin shows up claiming Martin is his dad. Figuring out the math make's sense, Martin set's out to be the best dad he can be. Trying to make up for all those lost year's he did not know about Marvin. That is until he find's out Marvin isn't even his son, which lead's to this funny exchange about Arizona.

5. Blackboard Jungle Fever

Martin runs into his old grade school teacher Ms. Trinidad. Only to see Ms. Trinidad still has it going on all those years later, and she's willing to let Martin fulfill his childhood fantasies. Martin almost give's into the temptation that is until Gina walk's in on the both of them.

Martin's a bit remorseful about even getting in to the temptation, Ms. Trinidad still wants her prey, and Gina is out for blood. This is a certified season 1 classic.

4. Guard Your Grill

Martin takes winning a charity boxing event too far and feeling disrespected, decides to challenge Tommy "Hitman" Hearns to a charity boxing match. Despite all the training in the world, of course he is no match for Hearns. Leading up to this hilarious confrontation in the boxing ring, which Martin sustains some serious apperance altering bruises from.

3. The Night He Came Home

This season 1 Halloween episode has everyone in the spirit except for Martin who doesn't buy into it. What follows is a night of Martin finding out his apartment just maybe haunted by Old Man Ackerman, and his friends being victims of the ghost. Martin soon show's his bravado is all talk when more spirits come after him.

2. I've Got A Secret

This season 1 episode brings out some bad blood amongst the friends, when secrets they've all held about one another come to light. Everytime I watch this episode I laugh my ass off like it's my first time watching it. 

In classic he said, she said scenario. Martin spills the beans on-air about a secret tactic Pam uses to get what she wants at work. Which he would only from Gina, which open's pandora's box amongst the gang of them basically talking shit about each other to one another.

1. Hollywood Swingin 1 and 2

This two part episode featured Tommy Davidson as a highly successful Late night host Varnell Hill who inspires Martin to reach for more.

Originally I only had the second episode listed, that interruption of Jodecis live performance gets me everytime. When I thought about it the first episode is just as funny if not more. While the second episode has the Jodeci interruption and a hilarious beef between Martin and "Michael Jackson". 

The first episode of this two-parter includes a just as funny if not more funnier exchange, between Martin and Varnell during an interview. Martin and Tommy Davidson are even trying their best not to break character during this scene. The 2nd half of this scene also highlights the chemistry between the two comedic geniuses and their amazing comedic timing.

A show as iconic as Martin it was hard to narrow down my ten favorite episodes, but in my opinion if someone could only watch 10 episodes from the 5 seasons. This 10 will show just what made this show so special.

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