Just Wright Movie Review

By Anne Brodie May 14, 2010, 17:14 GMT

JUST WRIGHT stars Queen Latifah (BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE, VALENTINE\'S DAY) as Leslie Wright, a straight-shooting physical therapist who gets the gig of a lifetime working with NBA All-Star Scott McKnight (Common – DATE NIGHT).  All is going well until Leslie finds herself falling for Scott, forcing her to choose between the gig of a lifetime and the tug-of-war inside her heart. Oblivious to her romantic overtures, McKnight is instead drawn ...more

Just Wright’s a fairy tale of sorts, played out in the world of pro basketball as a Leslie, a physical therapist (Queen Latifah) helps Scott, an NBA star player (Common) recover from a career threatening injury.  It’s no co-incidence that her best friend Morgan (Paula Patton) is his trophy girlfriend/wife who she figures that if his career is over so is their marriage.  Her goal was simple - to marry well and stay married well and get out if the going gets rough.  Leslie is left to put Scott together again physically and emotionally.  So we have the handsome prince, the wicked stepsister who spends her toime shoppping and looking in mirrors, and Cinderella toiling away while the others are at the ball.

It’s a bittersweet fairy tale, as the wise, patient, and good girl, the prince/celebrity athlete, and the wicked stepsister and the desires of each to get what they dream of act and unfold predictably.  The line between good and bad behaviour is clear as laid out in the fairytale playbook.  We know who they are even if they don’t. 

The plot is 100% traditional and so I assume it is aimed at a female audience of about 13 years of age who have wonderful memories of fairy tales and don’t mind the obvious, enjoy seeing love blossom and the unconventional girl try overcome the odds.

Queen Latifah as Cinderella, physical therapist has a way of energising the screen no matter how bland the story and script.  She has saved poor movies before.  Latifah has a smile that lights up an entire theatre, and a personality that enlivens any interchange.  She’s classy, moderate, and the definition of family friendly and supersafe.

Common plays Scott the prince who woos Morgan failing to see that Leslie loves him.  He is taken by Morgan’s beauty and Leslie’s personality – the same old song – and we can’t blame him for missing the gold while going for the brass.  The most obvious thing of all is that Morgan would desert him, and he would run to Leslie, licking his wounds.

It’s strange how Paula Patton is able to act despicably as Morgan and get away with it.  She brings a weird innocence to the golddigger who should really be spanked and sent to her room.  She steals Leslie’s dream man when she knows Leslie has a shot, and walks out on him when he’s down and shows up later whe he’s on the mend.  And yet she is sympathetic and we like her and so does Leslie.

The unsettling thing is the delicate and selfish nature of the athlete, who is leveled by the unexpected and completely dependent on women to heal him, girlfriend, mother, and hired hand. 

This brings us to cool stunt casting in Pam Grier as Leslie’s mother and Phyicia Rashad – once a sports trophy wife herself –as Scott’s.  Still gorgeous and dazzling, they tsk tsk when things arent going well, and perform as a Greek chorus.

Just wright is a pleasant outing that’s entirely undemanding.  It pokes fun at the world of celebrity wives and girlfriends, WAGS in the UK, the overdetailed arm candy that has become tabloid and dream fodder.  The hard working, reliable girl uultimately gets her just reward and all is well in the kingdom.   

35mm romantic drama
Written by Michael Elliott
Directed by Sanaa Hamri
Opens: May 18
MPAA: Rated PG for some suggestive material and brief language
Runtime: ?
Country: USA
Language: English