Really Surprised!

Am I Missing Something?

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

After playing with our expectations, this turns out to be a very different sort of film.

If you are looking for a film where a trash-talking basketball player must become a woman to learn how to act like a member of a team, this film is for you. That's what the previews showed me, and that's what I got. Nothing really shocking or creatively new in this film.Is the acting okay? Adequate. The directing? Nothing special. Plot? Predictable.Sorry I can't offer a longer review, but the only thing I can say about this film is the man makes a decent woman. Not an attractive one, but passable. This is the kind of film you watch if it's on television and you don't have cable and are too sick to go outside. Not sure why else you'd make a point to see this unless three sadistic brothers made you.

A piss poor remake of Tootsie where the action is transferred from the world of acting to basketball. The whole story arc duplicates Tootsie only substituting the girl he falls in love with's father for a sub P Diddy rapper and basically removing any genuine human elements and depth from the film. Also with rapper etc, and the script in general, lame African American stereotypes abound. If it weren't so crap Larry Gelbart and Don McGuire should sue for credit for their earlier, far superior template from which it was derived. The only redeeming element is Fat Joe's What's Luv? playing over the credits and the always gorgeous Vivica A. Fox. Give this a miss and watch the brilliant Tootsie instead!

The material, gender-twisted camp sports movie, is astonishing, but may be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to realize well. A major problem of Juwanna Mann is that unwisely blended fantasy and reality lead the audience to an absurd confusion. If it took place in a perfectly fictitious setting, it could be more persuasive. But the setting obviously refers to the NBA and the WNBA in the real world, and even an average fan can tell what is described in the film is far different from the reality. Also, a moral-learning in coming-of-age manner of a pro star athlete with an arrested development seems forcedly contrived and looks unnatural. Finally, as an enthusiastic WNBA fan myself, I don't appreciate the filmmakers' lack of knowledge in and respect to women's sports.Overall, the film is all about the superb but raw idea, which is not executed well.

There is nothing new about the plot to this movie. But, it is pretty funny. I liked the part when Juwanna gets pulled over by the cop and it turns out he wants to become a woman. That was good. Also, when Juwanna gives the women tips about men. And Tommy Davidson was funny as Puff Smokey with his silver teeth and his antics with Juwanna. Of course, at the end, our lead character learns a life lesson and changes his way.FINAL VERDICT: Not a bad way to pass a Saturday afternoon. It isn't too long and does have some humor.