Brown Sugar (2002)

65% of critics liked it
(85 reviews)
87% of users liked it
(54,285 ratings)

A woman wonders if it's just friendship or real love she feels when a close male friend announces he's tying the knot in this romantic comedy. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) became best friends when they were ten years old -- the same time that both first became aware of the first… More A woman wonders if it's just friendship or real love she feels when a close male friend announces he's tying the knot in this romantic comedy. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) became best friends when they were ten years old -- the same time that both first became aware of the first rumblings of the Hip Hop revolution in New York City. Today, Dre runs a successful record label, and Sidney is a respected music journalist; both have managed to turn their love for the music into careers, and both are still close friends. Close enough, in fact, that many of their pals wonder why they've never become boyfriend and girlfriend. While both have always denied their attraction to one another, Sidney begins to have second thoughts when Dre proposes to his girlfriend Reese (Nicole Ari Parker), a lawyer. Even though Sidney has a relationship of her own with professional basketball player Kelby (Boris Kodjoe), as Dre's wedding draws closer, Sidney begins to suspect that her longtime best friend is actually the love of her life. Brown Sugar features supporting performances form real life Hip Hop stars Mos Def and Queen Latifah; former basketball star Earvin "Magic" Johnson served as executive producer. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.
Directed By: Rick Famuyiwa
Written By: Michael Elliott, Rick Famuyiwa
Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 11, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Feb 11, 2003
Studio: Fox Searchlight

Critic Reviews

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It's predictable, but it jumps through the expected hoops with style and even some depth.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
A lot more dimensional and complex than its sunny disposition would lead you to believe.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
You don't have to know about music to appreciate the film's easygoing blend of comedy and romance.
Peter Howell, Toronto Star
Makes the sweet case that sincerity strikes the biggest romantic sparks.
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle
Takes every convention of the romantic comedy genre and turns it on its ear.
Gene Seymour, Newsday
The movie plays cute more than smart, but it's far from dumb -- and marks yet another baby step forward in the growing sophistication of African-American film.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The spirit of the old school echoes strongly throughout the film and parallels the purity of the passions and personalities of the paramours.
Todd Gilchrist, IGN Movies
Brown Sugar manages to take hip-hop's well-established history and make it digestible for audiences not necessarily tied directly into the core of that culture.
Tyler Hanley, Palo Alto Weekly
Fine performances from Diggs and Lathan give life to an otherwise rehashed love story, but musician Mos Def steals the show.
Ron Bishow, Katrillion.com
All in all, Brown Sugar is a satisfying well-made romantic comedy that's both charming and well acted. It will guarantee to have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face.
Rick Kisonak, Film Threat
The plot is romantic comedy boilerplate from start to finish.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
Hip-hop rarely comes alive as its own fire-breathing entity in this picture.
Adam Nayman, eye WEEKLY
True to its title, this hip-hop When Harry Met Sally is plenty sweet, but is that what we really want from a film set in the world of rap music?

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

monty h

Somehow I had never seen this movie before last night and I couldn't believed that I hadn't. It's a very good romantic comedy/drama that will remind you a little of When Harry Met Sally. There is even a scene where Taye Diggs character (Dre) spouts off on the different… More
Somehow I had never seen this movie before last night and I couldn't believed that I hadn't. It's a very good romantic comedy/drama that will remind you a little of When Harry Met Sally. There is even a scene where Taye Diggs character (Dre) spouts off on the different types of women and which ones are just to date and which ones are to marry, that scene echoes Billy Crystal's similar scene in Harry met Sally. Anyway this film main storyline has childhood friends Dre and Sidney (the gorgeous Sanaa Lathan) flirting around the issue of whether to just remain friends or become something closer. The point becomes moot when Dre ends up marrying hot to trot Reese (played by Nicole Ari Parker, who for once plays the bad girl instead of the usual saint). But Dre and Sidney still are such close friends that he spends more time with her than his own wife which leads to some friction. This being a romantic comedy, you know things will eventually turn out for the better, but getting there is what makes this movie works. A talented cast works wonders including Diggs and Lathan but also Queen Latifah as Sidney's cousin; Mos Def as a singer trying to break into the business, who is helped by Dre; and Parker. But the standout is Sanaa Lathan as Sidney. She manages to make her character seem very real, showing every emotion possible for happiness to sadness and all in between. When she is onscreen, the camera definitely loves her and so will audiences. Did I mention she was drop dead gorgeous. There are only a handful of women or men for that matter that can hold your attention with their acting ability and looks at the same time. I would put Ms Lathan up there with the legendary Elizabeth Taylor in her prime. So I highly recommend this movie, great for couples, great for romance lovers, great for film lovers in general. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dre: It's when you talk like that, that's what makes me think that you're jealous. Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: What? Dre: Yes. Jealous! Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: [throws a cookie on the table] No wonder you two are married, you're both crazy! Look here, contrary to what you and your wife may think, I don't spend my nights thinkin' about you, okay? Dre: Shh! Lower the voice. Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: I got a man who's fine, intelligent, successful, and gives it to me on a very, very regular basis and the s**t is the bomb! Dre: So! I don't care what - Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: Dre I need you to be happy for me. I need you to be there for me, just like you asked of me. So - so I can have tea and eat cucumber sandwiches with the crust cut off!
Leo L

A great movie!