Movies:
House Party
DVD Release
- Release Date: 2000
- Original theatrical trailer
- Cast and crew filmographies
- Rating:
- Genre: Comedy
- Movie Type: Teen Movie, Buddy Film
- Themes: Party Film, When the Parents Are Away
- Director: Reginald Hudlin
- Main Cast: Christopher "Kid" Reid, Christopher "Play" Martin, Robin Harris, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell
- Release Year: 1990
- Country: US
- Run Time: 100 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R
Plot
House Party is an infectious, engaging comedy starring the rap duo Kid 'N Play. Kid (Christopher Reid) decides to throw a party where he plans to blow the roof off the joint with his rhyming skills, so he and his friend Play (Christopher Martin) throw a huge party while Play's parents are away. The day of the party, Kid is grounded by his father (Robin Harris) and he has to sneak out of the house to get to the party, where he is confronted by several rival rappers, as well as a bevy of adoring girls. Though House Party follows a standard plot-line straight out of the '50s rock & roll films, the script is inventive, providing many different twists and turns, while Reginald Hudlin's direction is assured and very, very funny. Kid 'N Play are both terrific, but the true standout is legendary comedian Robin Harris in one of his few screen roles. House Party later spawned two sequels and an animated television series. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Movie GuideReview
One of the more welcome discoveries of the 1990 Sundance Film Festival was this effortless hip-hop comedy helmed by siblings Reginald Hudlin and Warrington Hudlin. The independently produced comedy achieved the kind of crossover success that had been lacking in the "black film" renaissance of the late '80s/early '90s, introducing mainstream teen audiences to a language and style that were fast being absorbed into everyday culture. Hot-button race issues like police harassment are played for sardonic laughs instead of weighty social commentary; the Hudlins' view of middle-class African-American life is warm and bittersweet without diminishing the conflicts still inherent in urban America. House Party would boost the careers of actress Tisha Campbell and then little-known comic Martin Lawrence, although leads Christopher "Kid" Reid and Christopher "Play" Martin would find little work on the big screen for the remainder of the decade. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie GuideCast
- Christopher "Kid" Reid - Kid
- Christopher "Play" Martin - Play
- Robin Harris - Pop
- Martin Lawrence - Bilal
- Tisha Campbell - Sidney
Adrienne-Joi Johnson - Sharane; Paul Anthony - Stab; B. Fine - Zilla; Leah Aldridge - Benita; Shaun Baker - Clint; Verda Bridges - Sharane's Sister; Jaime Cardriche - Tattoo; D-Zire - Girl No. 1; Barry Diamond - Cop #1; Norma Donaldson - Mildred; Ellaraino - Sidney's Mom; Bentley Evans - Tall Teen; Edith Fields - Principal; Alexander Folk - Guard; Full Force; Val Gamble - La Shay; Cedrick Hardman - Rock; Randy Harris - Roughouse; Stan Haze - Hatchett; Rodney Hill - Albert; Desi Arnez Hines II - Peanut; Myra J. - Guest; Anthony Johnson - E.Z.E.; George Logan - Pimp; Bowlegged Lou - Pee Wee; Richard McGregor - Evrette; Diana Mendoza - Lover; Belal Miller - Herman; Kelly Minter - La Donna; Michael Pniewski - Cop #2; Clifton Powell - Sharane's Brother; Ronn Riser - Guy; J. Jay Saunders - Sidney's Dad; Kimi Sung - Sunni; Lou D. Washington - Uncle Otis; Barry Wiggins - Waiter; Chino "Fats" Williams - Fats; John Witherspoon - Mr. Strickland; Eugene Allen - Groove; Warrington Hudlin - Burglar #2; Daryl Mitchell - Chill; Cliff Frazier - Brutus; Bebe Drake - Mrs. Strickland; George Clinton - D.J.
