Rating: 
Summary: I liked it.
Review: I liked this movie. Mainly because of Boris Kodjoe. To me, he stole the show from Taye Diggs. But it was still one of kind. Oh not to forget, my boy Mos Def is in it. Doing an outstanding job. One for the archives.theartistdyc*
Rating:
Summary: Sweet
Review: Sanah Lathan is coming into her own as a sexy superstar in the African American Romance movies. She is a much fresher face than Vivica Foxx and is a little more convincing that Gabrielle Union. Taye Diggs holds his own and adds a necessary element of comedy to the plot that I frankly don't feel that Omar Epps, Larenz Tate, or Morris Chestnut could bring to the table. I think that the two demonstrate good chemistry throughout the movie. Their characters are hip enough to be true fans of Hip Hop and on the other hand professional enough to handle their business in their respective careers. I really like the analogy that the movie makes with Love and Basketball. Oops. I meant to say...well you know where I was going. I think that the producers were trying to mix the ingredients of Love Jones with L&BB and did a decent job. Not to mention that Ms Badu's and Common's song "Love of My Life" blessed me with this movie's soundtrack
Rating: 
Summary: Average Hip Hop Movie, Good for true old school Hip Hop fans
Review: Brown Sugar was an average file mainly because I felt Taye Diggs was not the right person for this role. He is not believable as a hardcore underground hip hop lover. Basically, he is not "ghetto" enough for this role. Sanaa Lathan was excellent in her role as a music reviewer. The plot was predictable and the reference of using "hip hop" as a metaphor for love is somewhat refreshing. The best part was the beginning when some of the legendary hip hop artist revealed how their love of hip hop began. The insight to their love of hip hop is very interesting. Its not great but it will keep you entertain for the evening.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Predictable...
Review: For those who provided "constructive criticism" about why there aren't any other kinds of films being released that showcase these actors... People do not go to see dramas with predominately African-American casts. The film loses money, meaning movie studios are less likely to give funding for another drama with a mostly African-American cast.
Until the same people who pay to see romantic comedies start paying to see films like _Rosewood_ and _Antwone_Fisher_, this is what is released in movie theaters. Moving on... I thought the cast was one of the better ones I'd seen in the last few films I've watched. It's refreshing to see a film with an overall good cast, especially the strong performances from Mr. Diggs and Ms. Lathan. Have they worked in films where their work was awful? Overall, this is a good film. It's entertaining, and definitely better than some of other romantic comedies released in 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: movie of the week disguised as an ode to hip hop
Review: I saw this movie in the theater and was irritated by how predictable it was. It might as well been called Love and Basketball Part 2. The love story is adequate and Boris Kadjoe and Nicole Ari Parker are great as the love interests for the two protagonists. Saana Lathan is fine in her role as a hip hop journalist pining for her childhood friend. My real problem was with Taye Diggs who was just not convincing as a hip hop head. Diggs is beautiful to look at but I'm still not convinced that he has the acting chops or strength to really justify him carrying a movie. The movie makers dropped the ball...they should have reversed course and concentrated instead on secondary leads Mos Def and Queen Latifah. These two are actual hip hoppers and with their musical histories would have provided an authentic angle to the film . The movie came alive for me when they were onscreen. I would have loved to see a love story between two unconventional leads. That said it was nice seeing some old skool hip hop artists from back in the day in brief cameos.
Rating:
Summary: CLICHÉ Buppie Black Film disguised in hip-hop clothing
Review: When I first saw this movie in the theater, I was extremely impressed with it due to the fact that. I love hip hop culture and have been a part of the culture my entire life. When I first saw this movie I was impressed with the fact that the movie addresses hip hop's stagnant redundancy that's currently so prevalent. But I rented the DVD for the first time last week, and boy was I wrong about this movie being great. First of all this movie had the potential to be different as well as great. But the movie itself as well as the plot is almost identical to most recent black buppie love stories (see: The Brothers, Love & Basketball, The Wood.) It seems as if a majority of black film makers today lack the ability to break new ground. Or venture into a another dimension to capture our stories. Black films need more avant garde substance today, and that's clearly obvious with a film like Brown Sugar. They do a great job of fooling the audience with it's "hip hop's in a state of emergency" disguise, but I guarantee you, after you view this film for the second time, you will be disappointed. The character's are extremely under-developed and not too convincing either. Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan just seem to try to hard to fit into a Nuevo "hip-hop" persona. They just don't strike me as true hip hop heads. They simply just don't fit the roles of these characters. They both look confused in some instances, and look like they just became interested in hip-hop culture overnight rather than being embedded with it their entire lives. Lathan, was actually satisfactory with her performance. But Diggs was just god-awfully horrible, he didn't even convince me that he was even from New York...he just tried so hard to fit in throughout the whole movie. I gave this movie 2 stars for the extremely superb and credible performance by Mos Def (Cabbie) who seems to be the only character here with an ounce of substance. This movie could have been slightly better with a more convincing cast, maybe Digg's character should have been reserved for Mekhai Phifer or Omar Epps even. But the true reason why Epps wasn't used in this role is so that the audience wouldn't be able to indicate that this movie is a direct rip-off of Love & Basketball. The writers should have titled Brown Sugar Love & Hip-hop to fit more accordingly. The beginning of the flick includes the best portion of the entire a film with short interviews and freestyles from hip hop legends such as Kool G. Rap and Slick Rick. But ultimately if you've seen any of the millennium's bougie/snotty/ghetto flicks then you've seen them all. When will we wake up. I Hope African American filmmakers begin to follow the paths of Spike Lee and The Hughes's Brothers. Because we are now experiencing a new Exploitation era with these types of films. Rent this film don't spend your hard earned money on it.
Rating:
Summary: A Poem, Not a Movie
Review: Some films are really plays. Some are novels. This one is a poem. In other words, the ideas presented in "Brown Sugar" would be better expressed as a poem than as a movie. The poem could be called "An Ode to Hip Hop," where the writer expresses how she first discovered hip hop and how it made her feel. Later, as an adult, she's not happy because she lost touch with that feeling. Fortunately, with the help of another person, she reconnected with her passion for hip hop and is happy once again. That's "Brown Sugar" in its essence. Unfortunately, rather than write a poem, the writers decided to write it is as a film. Movies are stories told with pictures, not a series of stanzas focusing on a single idea or theme. The result is a movie that is mostly dull, flat and uninteresting. A romantic comedy that is not terribly romantic nor funny. This is really a shame, because for many, hip hop has a special place in their hearts. Many do remember the moment where they discovered hip hop, like they remember their first kiss or first car. This film presents itself as a vehicle for people to reconnect with that feeling of discovery of something life changing, but it really doesn't. It's as if the filmmakers felt than plot development and visual storytelling were not necessary. Because there are so many hip hop fans out there, the seem to be saying to simply take a generic plot ("My Best Friend's Wedding" all over again) with a little hip hop and you have a movie. They were wrong. Don't get me wrong. You want to like this movie. Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan make an attractive screen couple. They have good chemistry together, but that's not enough. You also need a compelling story, which is nowhere to be found in this film. Adding insult to injury, a lot of talent is wasted in this film. Nicole Ari Parker, one of the most gifted actors of her generation is given very little to do here. She's stuck with the stereotypical "bourgie" woman role. Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah along with another of the better "rappers turned actors" Mos Def are simply there for comic relief. Essentially the same joke is played over and over. And to think the NAACP nominated Latifah for this lightweight role and not for "Chicago," they should be ashamed of themselves. While the audience might get a smile or two from watching this film, it could have been so much more. It could have really been about two people's love for hip hop and how it has shaped their lives. Told in an imaginative and visual way, "Brown Sugar" could have touched not only hip hop fans, but the many that still don't understand how hip hop touches people emotionally. This of course is the real shame about this film. It's not enough to just throw a few hip hop songs on the soundtrack with some attractive actors to make a movie. You need a fresh plot with real drama and tension, not formulaic storylines. You need to develop not just the main characters, but the supporting parts as well. And if you're making a film about hip hop, really make it about hip hop. Give it it's own unique style, texture and flavor. For those looking for something romantic with touches of hip hop, might find something to like in this film. However, most will be left wanting more.
Rating:
Summary: not what you think it is..
Review: all this hype about being about hip-hop...yeah right...this is from the same mold as the best man, the brothers and every other black film out there. come on people, bring some orignality to the screen, intrigue our minds, bring something new the table. this is so cliche' don't get this movie....i would give it one star if i didn't like the actors in it.
Rating:
Summary: very good movie
Review: I am probably da biggest sanaa lathan fan. Its a shame dat she she is so underrated. This movie shows just how much young black actresses are not being potrayed in the spotlight as much as the males are. The movie is basically about a man and woman , frenz since childhood, who are leading their own lives, but the test of friendship unites them.From ythis movie u'll c love, gain laughter, and its definately worth seeing. Overall its a very good movie, but the front cover does make it predictable which is a shame.But i don;t feel this movie is as good as love and basketball which is y it didn't get 5 stars!! Its great for a date movie or chillin wid frenzand taye diggs makes it even more worthit, [...] da brudda is fine!!Shout out to sanna , ur too much!!
Rating: 
Summary: Another good Black Love Story
Review: I love this movie! No, it is not as good as love Jones, best man, or love a B-Ball...but this is still a great movie. It has a combination of humor, love, and fun all roll into one. Queen does a great job as usual and Moes Def...was "off the hook" this brother was FUNNY!!!. Tae and Sanna were great together as usual. I love the way he explained what "brown sugar" means....I think I will use that one!
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