Search - For Real on DVD

A Lackluster Production

Dr Lawrence Hauser | NYC, NY USA | 10/18/2003

(2 out of 5 stars)

"When I purchased a cable viewing of For Real the only thing I knew about its storyline was that a successful, unmarried entertainment lawyer (Tim Reid playing the character Mac) approaching fifty finds himself in the unwanted position of taking in his housekeeper's 'wild child' eighteen year-old niece who has gotten herself into trouble with the law. A creature of urban street life, Cece (Tamara Curry) has a huge reservoir of defensive resentment toward 'Uncle Tom' Blacks and those who have attained a measure of economic well-being in White America. Having been abandoned by her father at an early age, she also maintains ample antipathy toward older men like her new benefactor who must not only provide shelter for Cece, but take responsibility for her social rehabilitation as well. Although there were aspects of this film that were mildly engaging (the evolving relationship of the two main characters had its moments), for the most part I thought that the interesting premise of having a childless middle-aged man who has made it big time take on the project of supervising a needy young woman so full of attitude failed to live up to its potential. My central disappointment with For Real was two-pronged: The direction (Tim Reid again) seemed highly schematic and the screenplay too laden with cliche. From the very beginning nothing in the unfolding story came as a surprise and unhappily, I found I was reliably able to predict several scenes ahead as Reid depicted Cece's initial resistance to her new circumstances, and then her growing ability to take advantage of (and come to enjoy) Mac's privileged lifestyle and his concern for her. I thought that the performances of the cast were generally quite good, but the work mostly failed to overcome or break through the flat emotionality and facile narrative structure of the film. I usually watch a twenty-four hour cable purchase several times but in this case, I had trouble getting through a first viewing. Ironically, I saw Reid's portrayal of the consequences of lost (and thwarted) opportunity the day after watching Menace II Society (not to be missed by anyone with an interest in the Black experience of living in White America!!). It was the later film only that deserves the appellation For Real."