J. Anthony Brown Movies
- 2004
- Add The Robin Harris Story: We Don't Die, We Multiply to QueueAdd The Robin Harris Story: We Don't Die, We Multiply to top of Queue
Robin Harris was one of the best-respected African-American comedians of his day; after making his way up the ladder the hard way by playing club gigs around the country while working day jobs, he gained his first major break when he became the master of ceremonies at the Comedy Act venue in Los Angeles. Harris' sharp wit and old-school approach earned gained the attention of a number of filmmakers, and in the late '80s he scored showy roles in Do the Right Thing, Mo' Better Blues, and House Party. However, just as Harris seemed poised to make a major career breakthrough, he died of a respiratory ailment in 1990 at the age of 37. The Robin Harris Story: We Don't Die, We Multiply is a documentary which examines Harris' short but memorable career, and includes interviews with such friends and fans as Bernie Mac, Cedric the Entertainer, Martin Lawrence, and Robert Townsend. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Robin Harris
The stand-up comedy concert film Latham Entertainment Presents features a handful of African-American comedians including D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, and Rickey Smiley. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- J. Anthony Brown, Bruce Bruce, (more)
- 2003
The WB sitcom Like Family was the tale of two family groups, one white and one black. Hoping to find a better living environment for her troublesome teenaged son Keith (J. Mack Slaughter), single, white, working mom Maddie Hudson (Diane Farr) moved out of Manhattan and into the suburban New Jersey home of her black best friend Tanya Ward (Holly Robinson Peete) and Tanya's husband Ed (Kevin Michael Richardson). The fun began when Keith developed a crush on the Wards' daughter Danika (Megalyn Echikunowoke). Like Family premiered September 19, 2003. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Holly Robinson Peete, Diane Farr, (more)
This video features stand-up comedy performances from HBO's long-running series Def Comedy Jam. Martin Lawrence hosts the program with his usual style of raucous humor while introducing featured artists like J. Anthony Brown, Adele Givens, and D.L. Hughley. While sex is a pervasive topic in most of the performances, political observations and comments on current hot issues abound. The energetic and enthusiastic live audiences add to the video's infectious comedic atmosphere.
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
~ Sarah Block, All Movie Guide
A man who's devoted his life to running around on his woman finally meets his match in this comedy. Dray Jackson (Bill Bellamy) is a ladies' man par excellence, who never lets the fact that he has a girlfriend, Lisa (Lark Voorhies), get in the way of making time with as many other women as possible. As he spends a typical day going from house to house "visiting" a number of beautiful females, Dray fills his friends David (Pierre Edwards), Kilo (Jermaine Hopkins), and Spootie (A.J. Johnson) in on the finer points of the art of having as many ladies as you want without getting caught. Dray's sister Jenny (Natalie Desselle) and her friend Katrina (Mari Morrow) are at once disgusted and morbidly fascinated with Dray's cheerful, chronic infidelity, and since Jenny is studying anthropology, they decide that Dray's lifestyle would be a worthy subject for research. Deciding to see what would happen if Dray was really put to the test (and maybe teach him a lesson in the process), Jenny and Katrina throw a party, and they invite Dray -- and all the women whose telephone numbers appear in his address book. Max Julien, best known for his role as the ultra-smooth pimp in the blaxploitation classic The Mack, appears as Dray's lady-killing Uncle Fred. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bill Bellamy, Natalie Desselle, (more)
Drumline brings the world of "show-style" marching bands (popular at traditionally black, Southern colleges) to the big screen for the first time. The story, by Shawn Schepps, was inspired by the high school drumline experiences of executive producer/executive music producer Dallas Austin. Devon (Nick Cannon of Nickelodeon's The Nick Cannon Show) is a Harlem drummer who earns a full scholarship to the fictional Atlanta A&T University. There, his talent gets the attention of the school's embattled musical director, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones), who puts his students' education and appreciation for musical tradition ahead of the marching band's popularity. Devon's brashly egotistical attitude doesn't endear him to Lee, whose slogan for the band is "One band, one sound," or to the drumline's disciplined captain, Sean (Leonard Roberts, late of TV's Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Devon has more success with the dance captain of the marching band, Laila (Zoe Saldana, who played a ballet dancer in Center Stage), a Southern belle who's won over by Devon's confidence. Sean feels threatened by Devon's talent, and his attitude, so when he learns that Devon can't read music, he uses the information to his advantage. With the band facing their archrival at a huge marching band competition, Dr. Lee has to decide whether to allow the brilliant drummer to perform, despite his attitude. Devon has to prove that he can show his skills while still being part of the team. Drumline was directed by Charles Stone III (Paid in Full), and features cameo appearances by musical artists Blu Cantrell and Petey Pablo. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, (more)
