Held Up

Jamie Foxx, Nia Long. Steve Rush, director. Trimark

Absolutely hilarious. But then, I almost always enjoy movies that have a primary single setting, such that they could be easily translated into a stage play. Set in the southwest, and Foxx is held up in a convenience store by your typical bungling theives, surrounded by bungling county sherriffs, but what's well done about the film is that none of the bunglers are overdone stereotypes: they are all well-drawn characters who happen to be having an off day.

Also, what's interesting is that even though the idea is that an African American is trapped in what would normally be a white situation, this is noted but not hammered home. It simply comes up as a few good lines.

Mentioning lines, the entire film contains great dialogue, which, for me, cements it as a "must see."

VG