Eugene Jones Movies
A screen performer raised in Harlem and adept with material in multiple venues, from stage to cinema to television, Eugene Jones III entered Hollywood via the small screen with one-episode guest appearances on numerous prime-time series including Law & Order, Stella, and Without a Trace. Jones took his big-screen bow with a memorably difficult role as the adolescent African-American boyfriend of an Arab-American teen girl, in Alan Ball's scathing, disturbing evisceration of pre-Iraq War America, Towelhead (2007). The following year, Jones starred opposite Martin Lawrence and Raven-Symone in the Disney studios' G-rated family comedy College Road Trip. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
A high-school student (Raven Symone) with noble dreams of becoming a public defender sets out to visit potential universities in the unwanted company of her father (Martin Lawrence) -- an overprotective cop -- in this road trip comedy produced by Andrew Gunn and directed by Roger Kumble. Melanie (Symone) is about to graduate high school, and she's ready to take her first step toward adulthood by hitting the road to explore her college prospects with a few close female friends. But despite the fact that this trip is strictly "girls only," Melanie's father isn't comfortable with the prospect of his little princess hitting the road without an adult chaperone -- and what better guardian to have while you're out on the open road than the chief of police himself? Of course, while Melanie's father only has the best of intentions, his presence on a trip that was designed to mark his little girl's emergence as a young adult leads to an endless series of comic complications. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Martin Lawrence, Raven Symone, (more)
Six Feet Under creator and American Beauty screenwriter Alan Ball makes his feature directorial debut with this screen adaptation of author Alicia Erian's controversial novel Towelhead. Jasira (Summer Bishil) is a 13-year-old Arab-American who's contending with the pains of adolescence when her life takes a sudden and unexpected turn. Sent to live with her stern Lebanese father, Rifat (Peter Macdissi), by her self-absorbed mother (Maria Bello), Jasira finds herself struggling to adjust to life in the suburbs while contending with racism and hypocrisy at every turn. Rifat lives in a modest, suburban Houston home next to racist reservist Mr. Vuoso (Aaron Eckhart) and meddling expectant mother Melina (Toni Collette). Adjusting to life in the suburbs isn't easy for young Jasira, though she tries her hardest to adapt to the unfamiliar environment by striking up casual conversations with her curious new neighbors. In the process, Jasira finds herself increasingly attracted to hormone-driven African-American teen Thomas (Eugene Jones). When Rifat finds out that his daughter's new boyfriend is black, he vehemently condemns the relationship. As America launches its initial invasion of Iraq, Jasira finds herself caught up in a potentially explosive situation that is only compounded by her raging hormones and the snooping of her pregnant, busybody neighbor. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Summer Bishil, Peter Macdissi, (more)
