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Pretty Crazy
USA 2023
produced by Bryce Ray, Kaylah Jones, Leslie Jones, Mya Jones, Maurice Mo' Jones (executive) for JB Productions
directed by Maurice Mo' Jones
starring Chris Taylor, Corin Clay, Trevon Townsend, Joel Q, Pat Jordan, Jasmine Dunlap, Nickie Kruszynski, Sapphire Snow, Sabrina Tolbert, Tanette Barnes, Mya Jones, Rashida Lucas, Dalila M. Lucas, Inglish Washington (= India Inglish), Be'Anna Clark, Natasha Williams, Shoshonia Finley, Glvd Hearted, Brandon J. Wallace, Nayla Lucas, Chantelly Johnson, Derrion, Jamese Kane, Mason Grady, Michelle Jones, Jelani McEwen, Mike Hill
story by Maurice Mo' Jones, Rey Figueroa, screenplay by Maurice Mo' Jones, Mya Jones, Leslie Jones
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Blake (Chris Taylor) is successful, handsome, charming, and has a
background in high school and college football - so it's no trouble at all
for him to find women to date. However, while it's easy for him to pick up
women, he's not all that successful in actually picking them, as every
woman he dates turns out to be pretty crazy after a (usually very short)
while, and thus he just aimlessly drifts from one relationship into the
next, to a point where he doesn't actually invest all that much emotion
anymore. But this kind of life also gets tiring, to a point where he's on
the verge of giving up seeking out relationships altogether - much to the
dismay of his best friend Clayton (Trevon Townsend), who wants him as best
man at his wedding - but won't have it that Blake shows up without a date.
But then, at Clayton's work, Blake runs into Mel (Corin Clay), a natural
beauty and down-to-earth girl, and it's love at first sight - for him, as
his usual pick-up lines don't work on her, nor does his womanizing
smoothness. But Blake figures she's the one, so seeing himself through her
eyes he starts to change, and eventually wins her around. And after quite
a bit of wooing from his side, they become a serious couple, so much so
that he introduces her to his mother (Pat Jordan). Everything seems to be
perfect - until Blake's ex Kayleigh (Jasmine Dunlap), who has never
accepted their break-up, shows up, laying her claim on him. And she has
her way to convince Mel that he has never really gotten over her, even if
that's a blatant lie. With his past having caught up with him, Blake finds
himself back to square one, if not worse, and rather clueless on how to
win heartbroken Mel back ... Now I admit that romantic comedy
is far from my favourite genre - but that said, I really liked this movie,
especially because it doesn't follow the genre formula too closely,
instead concentrates on its well fleshed out characters, and knows when to
be funny (and sometimes really funny) but also when to let the
dramatic aspects of the story win the upper hand. Plus the movie mostly
stays away from exaggerations and rather downplays the kitsch moments that
so often sink movies of its ilk. And a subtle enough direction and a
likable and relatable cast sure help making this into a very entertaining
film.
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