ALL ABOUT US

ALL ABOUT US is an incredibly attractive, lyrical story about a Hollywood husband and wife movie production team who have hit a brick wall in the entertainment industry and are desperate to get a break.

Stacy Brown, played by Ryan Michelle Bathé from TV’s BOSTON LEGAL, has a passion for becoming a great filmmaker. Her husband Edward, played by Boris Kodjoe from SOUL FOOD and BROWN SUGAR, is burned out by the Entertainment Industry. He wants to give up carrying their movie’s prints from studio to studio and wants Stacy to stay home with their new baby Luke. When Stacy cuts him off emotionally, Edward decides to try one last time to make it in Hollywood.

So, surprisingly, they travel to a small town in Mississippi, to meet actor Morgan Freeman at his blues club so they can give him their next script. Along the way, they meet Miss Ella, played by Ruby Dee, who imparts godly Christian wisdom to them. They also meet a painter who tells them that gifts are from God and that God has given him the gift of preaching.

When Stacy and Edward see the joy and the peace in the rural Christian community, they start to re-evaluate their life. One hour before seeing Morgan Freeman, their baby Luke gets very sick and has to go to the hospital. Do they stay with Luke or do they go to meet Morgan to pursue fame?

The cinematography in ALL ABOUT US is extremely beautiful. The acting and dialogue is attractive, winsome and real. The music has become a best-selling CD and tells the story quite well. The problem is that the movie is so lyrical in the beginning that it misses the first plot point. The second plot point, when Luke takes ill, is clearly defined, and picks up the story. It carries the audience to a powerful, heartrending, compelling ending.

The movie makes a clear point that doing the right thing, being responsible, and choosing faith and family are much more rewarding than getting caught in the trap of following personal whims and desires. Thus, ALL ABOUT US has a very faithful Christian message. That said, there is one bedroom scene between the husband and wife, which is provocative, though shadowed. And, there is a lot of kissing and low-cut dresses. The good news is there are only three vulgarities.

This movie shows talent and deserves the awards it has won. A little closer attention to scripting could have made it a four-star movie. This is a true story with a happy ending that tugs at the heartstrings