Themes: Inner City Blues, Mothers and Sons, Haunted By the Past
Main Cast: Tyrese Gibson, Omar Gooding, A.J. Johnson, Taraji P. Henson, Snoop Dogg, Ving Rhames
Release Year: 2001
Country: US
Run Time: 129 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Ten years later, writer and director John Singleton returns to the South Central Los Angeles neighborhoods of his debut film Boyz 'N the Hood (1991). Tyrese Gibson stars as Jody, a jobless 20-year-old African-American man who has fathered two children by two different women, Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and Peanut (Tamara LaSeon Bass), although he still lives with his 36-year-old mother Juanita (Adrienne-Joi Johnson). As Jody grapples with the increasing pressures of adult responsibility, he also contends with his troubled best friend Sweetpea (Omar Gooding) and new adversary Rodney (Snoop Doggy Dogg). Then there's his mother's live-in boyfriend Marvin (Ving Rhames), a reformed gangsta who agrees with Juanita that her son should grow up, move out, and move on. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
Review
Since Boyz 'N the Hood put him on the map, John Singleton has gone as far afield from that territory as a director can, from color-blind social commentary (Higher Learning) to historical drama (Rosewood) to outright escapism (Shaft). Ten years later, he returns to the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, but this is a kinder, gentler Singleton, one interested in relationships defined more by underlying kindness than vengeful spite, one content to stop shy of operatic tragedy. As a result, Baby Boy feels a little neutered, even if it features astute observations about the societal roles ascribed to young African-American males, as well as the regrettable dynamics that grow from them. Singleton starts by quoting a psychologist who posits that the young black man is treated (and behaves) like a baby, incapable of tapping into a higher purpose while content to languish in neediness. From here he launches into a study of one particular "baby boy," Jody (credibly played by singer Tyrese Gibson in his film debut), whose relationships with the mothers of his two children, as well as his own mother, speak volumes about his stunted growth. Jody's head-butting with his mother's new boyfriend (Ving Rhames) and a paroled thug (Snoop Dogg) showcase more of the familiar friction from Boyz, which also has its place in this world of hair-trigger machismo. Singleton is a bit too heavy-handed -- a mural-sized portrait of slain gangsta rapper Tupac Shakur watches ominously over Jody's bed -- but even in a lesser effort, he remains one of film's most talented chroniclers of underexamined lives. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Sabrina L. Gray - Associate Producer, Kimberly Hardin - Casting, Ruth E. Carter - Costume Designer, Frank Davis - First Assistant Director, John Singleton - Director, Bruce Cannon - Editor, David Arnold - Composer (Music Score), Keith Brian Burns - Production Designer, Charles Mills - Cinematographer, John Singleton - Producer, Dwight Williams - Producer, Judi Giovanni - Set Designer, Veda Campbell - Sound/Sound Designer, Roy Anderson - Stunts, John Singleton - Screenwriter, Greg Hedgepath - Supervising Sound Editor, Judi Giovanni - Set Decorator
Baby Boy is a 2001urbandrama film written, produced, and directed by John Singleton. It has been considered a sequel of sorts to Singleton's earlier, more famous work, Boyz n the Hood.
An immature young adult named Jody (Tyrese Gibson) lives with his mother Juanita (Adrienne-Joi Johnson) in South Central Los Angeles. He spends most of his time with his unemployed best friend Sweetpea (Omar Gooding) and does not seem interested in becoming a responsible adult. However, he is forced to mature as a result of a number of factors, one in particular being his mother's new boyfriend, an ex-con named Melvin (Ving Rhames) who moves into their home. Another factor is his children - a boy with his current girlfriend Yvette (Taraji P. Henson) and a baby girl with a young lady named Peanut. Yvette constantly asks Jody if he will ever come live with her and their son, but Jody avoids the subject and comes and goes as he pleases. Jody also continues seeing other women, including Peanut. This becomes an issue between him and Yvette as well.
Eventually, Yvette's gangster ex-boyfriend Rodney (Snoop Dogg), is released from prison and returns to the neighborhood to challenge Jody. Rodney attempts to rape Yvette in front of her son, and also tries to kill Jody in a drive-by shooting; however, he is unsuccessful with both efforts. Jody and Sweetpea confront Rodney, and as he attempts to escape, Jody shoots him in the ankle. Sweetpea urges Jody to kill Rodney, but he refuses, at which point Sweetpea kills Rodney himself. After reflecting on the death of Rodney and how he put Yvette and his son in danger by not being around consistently, Jody finally moves out of his mom's house and in with Yvette. Jody has now become a mature man, realizing that his mom's relationship with Melvin is a stable one and that he has a family of his own that he needs to protect and take care of.
Casting
The lead role was originally written for Tupac Shakur in 1996, but when he died, production for the film was put on hold. Jody listens to a lot of Tupac Shakur songs and has a mural on his wall of him.
Tamala Jones auditioned for the role of Yvette. Ironically, Tamala Jones's sister, Tracey Jones, portrays the character Sharika, Yvette's best friend.
Singleton originally wrote the role of Rodney for Ice Cube.
The cast won a special award at the Locarno International Film Festival in 2001. The film was also in the running for the Golden Leopard, the festival's top prize.
