Juwanna Mann

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Juwanna Mann

Juwanna Mann promotional poster
Directed by Jesse Vaughan
Produced by James G. Robinson
David C. Robinson
Bill Gerber
Steve Oedekerk
Written by Bradley Allenstein
Starring Miguel A. Núñez, Jr.
Vivica A. Fox
Kevin Pollak
Tommy Davidson
Kim Wayans
Ginuwine
J. Don Ferguson
and Lil' Kim
Music by Wendy & Lisa
Cinematography Reynaldo Villalobos
Editing by Seth Flaum
Studio Morgan Creek
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release dates June 21, 2002
Running time 91 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $15,600,000 (estimated)

Juwanna Mann is a 2002 American sports romantic comedy film directed by Jesse Vaughan. The movie stars Miguel A. Núñez, Jr. as Jamal Jeffries, a basketball star becoming a female impersonator joining women's basketball, after being banned from men's basketball. In addition to being able to play the sport he loves, he also does it to become romantically involved with a lovely player. The film also stars Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Pollak, Tommy Davidson, Kim Wayans, Ginuwine, and J. Don Ferguson. The movie is written by Bradley Allenstein and produced by Bill Gerber. The movie opened in theaters on June 21, 2002.

The movie was filmed in Charlotte, North Carolina, at the Charlotte Coliseum and the Independence Arena. The movie's soundtrack features music by Diana Ross, James Brown, Mystikal, Ginuwine, and Stevie Wonder.

Plot

Juwanna Mann follows the story of Jamal Jeffries (Miguel A. Núñez, Jr.), a basketball star whose undisciplined on-and-off-court antics have earned him a bad reputation in the basketball community. Jamal is suspended indefinitely after he strips naked in protest of being taken out of a game. His agent, Lorne Daniels (Kevin Pollak), is unsuccessful at finding him a new team, and cuts Jamal as a client. As a result, Jamal's life goes downhill: his endorsements drop him, he ends up bankrupt due to lavish spending, his belongings are repossessed, his mansion is forclosed, and his girlfriend Tina (Lil' Kim), who only put up with his antics for his money and fame, walks out on him.

Jamal, now out of work and homeless, goes to live with his no-nonsense Aunt Ruby (Jenifer Lewis), the only person that doesn't put up with Jamal's outrageous antics. Lacking any other sort of skills, he decides to dress up as a woman named "Juwanna Mann" to play for the Charlotte Banshees of the WUBA (fictional version of the WNBA). Aunt Ruby reluctantly agrees to help him with his charade as does Lorne who has no choice after Jamal reveals himself to be Juwanna. In a riotous scene involving the team physical, Jamal has to disguise himself as the team mascot in order to avoid being found out by the team physician. Jamal quickly becomes a star on the court, and his overall attitude changes drastically as well. He learns to play with a team rather than just himself. While becoming successful with the Banshees, Jamal also finds himself in a problematic relationship with his teammate Michelle (Vivica A. Fox), whom he has romantic feelings for but cannot act on because Michelle knows him only as her confidante, Juwanna. His situation is further complicated as Michelle is involved in a romantic relationship with Rapper Romeo (Ginuwine [who ends up cheating on her]) while Jamal (as Juwanna) is busy warding off the amorous advances of Romeo's sidekick Puff Smokey Smoke (Tommy Davidson). Jamal's cover is blown in a playoff game when Jamal decides to dunk the ball and shatters the backboard. In all the excitement, Jamal loses his wig revealing that he is in fact Jamal Jeffries. The movie ends with Jamal Jeffries being reinstated into the UBA (fictional version of the NBA) thanks to the support of his former WUBA teammates, who vouch for him. Michelle gives him a championship ring and a kiss.

Cast

Reception

Juwanna Mann was not well received by critics, earning a 10% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The site's consensus is that "With its tired premise, Juwanna Mann's jokes fall flat."[1]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Juwanna Mann reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 17, 2009. 

External links

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