Something New

Blind Date Leads to Unlikely Love in Cross-Cultural Romantic Comedy

Film Review by Kam Williams

By most standards, Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) should have nothing to complain about. She has benefited from the attention of doting parents whose emphasis on academics and career has inspired her to earn degrees from Wharton and Stanford. This, in turn, enabled the ambitious overachiever to land a great job at a top accounting firm where her meteoric rise has her presently poised to make partner.

Sanaa Lathan in "Something New"

Plus, she has three close girlfriends, who are just as successful, a judge, a pediatrician and a banker. And now that she’s just bought her own home in an exclusive section of Los Angeles, the only thing missing is a man to share her practically-perfect picture life with.

Because Kenya happens to be African-American, she is well aware of the scary statistic which indicates that 42% of black females are fated never to marry. So, she finds herself on weekends sitting around commiserating with similarly-situated sisters about their dire prospects for a satisfying social life.

This is the point of departure of Something New, a delightful romantic romp which suggests that Kenya’s problem is that she’s limited her options by waiting for an IBM, meaning an Ideal Black Man, instead of considering dating a dude of a different color. Fortunately, she does manage to meet Mr. Wonderful in spite of herself, after agreeing to a blind date arranged by a concerned co-worker who says, "We got to get you married."

Normally self-assured Kenya meets Brian (Simon Baker) for coffee, and sparks start to fly. Yet, she loses her composure, coming unglued not because he’s a gardener, but because he’s white. This source of embarrassment allows for loads of pure, sitcom-style silliness, such as when she tries to bond with a black Starbucks employee by asking how the shop’s owner, Magic Johnson, has been treating him. "Never met him," is the stunned cashier’s reaction.

Simultaneously, the picture presents a plausible tension between the lovebirds as the relationship deepens, and as loved ones learn of their liaison. For instance, her womanizing brother (Donald Faison) accuses her of "sleeping with the enemy," while her female friends inquire about her Caucasian Casanova’s endowment and quality of performance in the sack.

But the cozy couple is less focused on superficialities as they deal with more meaningful differences. Brian is annoyed by Kenya’s repeatedly referring to this or that grievance due to discrimination, since he sees her as far better off financially than he.

"Every day, I’m reminded that I’m black," she counters. "Are you expecting me to be in this relationship and not talk about race?"

"Not just all the time," he responds, trying to be supportive though ostensibly exasperated by this unfamiliar emotional baggage.

Mixing mirth with such sophisticated moments, Something New ultimately triumphs primarily because of the easy-going screen chemistry generated by Sanaa Lathan and Simon Baker. For they are rather convincing conveying the idea that this workaholic ice princess’s reservations and skepticism would prove to be no match for the earnestness of a handsome, laid-back landscaper with enough passion, persistence and patience to melt her heart while turning everyone they know colorblind.

Kudos to Moroccan-born director Sanaa Hamri, who makes her feature film debut, here, after producing music videos for Mariah Carey, India.Arie, Destiny’s Child and Jay-Z. Same goes for a stellar supporting cast which includes Blair Underwood, Mike Epps, Taraji Henson, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Alfre Woodard, and John Ratzenberger in a blinked-and-you-missed-it cameo.

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG-13 for sexual references

Running time: 100 minutes

Studio: Focus Features