BABY BOY (UMD/PSP/WS 1.85 A/2.0/CH-ENG-PG-SUB/FR-BOTH) DVD

Baby Boy
Ten years later, writer and director John Singleton returns to the South Central Los Angeles neighborhoods of his debut film Boyz 'N the Hood (1991). Tyrese Gibson stars as Jody, a jobless 20-year-old African-American man who has fathered two children by two different women, Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and Peanut (Tamara LaSeon Bass), although he still lives with his 36-year-old mother Juanita (Adrienne-Joi Johnson). As Jody grapples with the increasing pressures of adult responsibility, he also contends with his troubled best friend Sweetpea (Omar Gooding) and new adversary Rodney (Snoop Doggy Dogg). Then there's his mother's live-in boyfriend Marvin (Ving Rhames), a reformed gangsta who agrees with Juanita that her son should grow up, move out, and move on. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

Cast Tyrese Gibson as Jody Omar Gooding as Sweetpea A.J. Johnson as Juanita Taraji P. Henson as Yvette Snoop Dogg as Rodney Tamara LaSeon Bass as Peanut Ving Rhames as Melvin Mo'nique as Patrice

Crew Sabrina L. Gray - Associate Producer Kimberly Hardin - Casting Ruth E. Carter - Costume Designer Frank Davis - First Assistant Director John Singleton - Director Bruce Cannon - Editor David Arnold - Composer (Music Score) Keith Brian Burns - Production Designer Charles Mills - Cinematographer John Singleton - Producer Dwight Williams - Producer Judi Giovanni - Set Designer Veda Campbell - Sound/Sound Designer Roy Anderson - Stunts John Singleton - Screenwriter Greg Hedgepath - Supervising Sound Editor Judi Giovanni - Set Decorator

Baby Boy
Since Boyz 'N the Hood put him on the map, John Singleton has gone as far afield from that territory as a director can, from color-blind social commentary (Higher Learning) to historical drama (Rosewood) to outright escapism (Shaft). Ten years later, he returns to the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, but this is a kinder, gentler Singleton, one interested in relationships defined more by underlying kindness than vengeful spite, one content to stop shy of operatic tragedy. As a result, Baby Boy feels a little neutered, even if it features astute observations about the societal roles ascribed to young African-American males, as well as the regrettable dynamics that grow from them. Singleton starts by quoting a psychologist who posits that the young black man is treated (and behaves) like a baby, incapable of tapping into a higher purpose while content to languish in neediness. From here he launches into a study of one particular "baby boy," Jody (credibly played by singer Tyrese Gibson in his film debut), whose relationships with the mothers of his two children, as well as his own mother, speak volumes about his stunted growth. Jody's head-butting with his mother's new boyfriend (Ving Rhames) and a paroled thug (Snoop Dogg) showcase more of the familiar friction from Boyz, which also has its place in this world of hair-trigger machismo. Singleton is a bit too heavy-handed -- a mural-sized portrait of slain gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur watches ominously over Jody's bed -- but even in a lesser effort, he remains one of film's most talented chroniclers of underexamined lives. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
 

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General Specifications: Language Options: English, French Subtitle Options: English, French, KO, Por, Spanish, TH Sound Processing: 2: PCM stereo Additional Features: DVD Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1: Theatre Wide-Screen MPAA Rating: R DVD Discs Included: 1 DVD Sides: 1 DVD DVD Region Code: 1 Content Length: 130 min