Search - Set It Off on DVD

Gloria B. (glowbird) from SPOKANE, WA
Reviewed on 4/1/2023...

Set It Off appeared during a period of some burgeoning films with African American themes. It also may have been the first bank heist film with female leads. The film focuses on four inner-city black women each pushed to the brink by a financial system, and society, working against them. What makes their backstories believable are the circumstances that drives them to desperation. There is a truth in that people of color are made easy scapegoats in an unjust system and highlights the social plights and dilemmas that are faced.

In Set It Off, we are introduced to Frankie who loses her bank job after it is robbed and she is suspected as an accomplice. Another character (T.T.) has her child taken away by Child Protective Services. Stony (Jada Pinkett's character) works two jobs to put her brother through school witnesses him being killed by the police. Queen Latifah�s character Cloe is the only one not given a tragic backstory�in part because we learn she has a past criminal history and that she is a lesbian, although both issues only characterize her temperament as being more aggressively masculine.

Director, F. Gary Grey, who has brought other films that feature African American actors and themes such as Friday, the Negotiator, Be Cool, MIB and Straight Outta Compton directed Set It Off. We have him to thank for casting Jada Pinkett (before she added Smith to her name) to play Stony in Set It Off. The role contributed to many good reviews of her work. My introduction to her was the film Jason�s Lyric, a film that peaked my interest in any film she was in thereafter. This was also Queen Latifah�s first leading role in a film and her favorite role of all time. Cloe�s likeability is due to Latifah�s charisma to pull off the role.

I think it�s worth noting that, �The film was a box office success, grossing over $41 million against a budget of $9 million. The film earned positive reviews from critics, who praised the characters, music and performances of the cast (particularly that of Pinkett and Latifah), as well as the chemistry of the four leading actresses. The soundtrack was a commercial success, peaking at number four on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.� (Wikipedia)

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K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 4/5/2020...

Two stars is generous for what could have been great but instead had lots of unrealistic events. There were some good scenes but for the most part, I walked away disappointed...

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