Themes: Date from Hell, Nothing Goes Right, Opposites Attract
Main Cast: Jada Pinkett Smith, Tommy Davidson, Duane Martin, Michael Ralph, Darrell M. Heath
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 84 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Daisy von Scherler Mayer (Madeline, Party Girl) directed this comedy, scripted by David C. Johnson (D.R.O.P. Squad), following the trajectory of a mismatched couple throughout the evening of a blind date in New York (but mostly filmed in Toronto). Extrovert Darlene "Woo" Bates (Jada Pinkett Smith of Scream 2) is one woman who's not afraid to take what she wants, and she has a notorious knack for turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (Girlina) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it's true. Celestrial, however, is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette (Paula Jai Parker of Friday) and Claudette's boyfriend Lenny (Dave Chapelle of Con Air) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Fearing that his night alone with Claudette will be ruined, Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Tommy Davidson of Booty Call) to take Woo out -- even though shy, straight-laced law clerk Tim is the polar opposite of the sassy and brassy Woo. At first, Woo expresses disinterest in the matchmaking mismatch. But when she's told that Tim is a Virgo, she decides it's fate, jumps at the chance, and immediately heads for Tim's apartment. Meanwhile, Tim, who can't believe his luck, goes next door to his neighbor Darryl (LL Cool J of B.A.P.S.) for tips on romancing women. Darryl, who knows all the smooth moves, supplies Tim with incense, edible body oils, and a tape of sexy songs. When Woo arrives, Tim is completely smitten. Woo, however, discovers that Tim is anything but the sexy, spontaneous stud of her dreams. Finding Tim's pseudo-cool act totally transparent, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to exit Tim's apartment when Tim gets a visit from three of his pals -- Frankie (Duane Martin of Getting Personal), Hop (Darrel M. Heath of B.A.P.S.), and Romaine (Michael Ralph of Do the Right Thing). The chauvinistic attitude of these guys irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks out the trio with wild, seemingly psycho behavior. Finally, the date gets underway. Woo and Tim arrive at a stuffy Italian restaurant, but Woo's behavior gets them thrown out. They go to a dance club, where Tim becomes the victim, punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend. Woo likes a good laugh, and when Tim discovers the theft of his flashy new car, she finds this hilarious. "Maybe we could be having a good time, if you could control your psychotic mood swings," says Tim. And so it goes, straight on till morning. Billy Dee Williams portrays himself in a brief fantasy sequence. Daisy von Scherler Mayer is a native New Yorker who made film history when her movie Party Girl became the first feature film to premiere on the Internet (on June 3, 1995). ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
Review
As the title character in Woo, Jada Pinkett follows an agreeable template for bratty unpredictability forgiven by toe-curling cuteness -- a mind-scrambling combo for men in general and Tommy Davidson in particular. It worked well for Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and Parker Posey in Party Girl, the latter film having also been directed by Woo's Daisy von Scherler Mayer. Like those actresses, Pinkett makes this part all her own by way of eccentric antics and self-stylized speech patterns that stand out. But without the script of those sleeper hits, Woo is little more than a blip on the radar, not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet. In fact, Woo sits in neutral for the better part of a formulaic all-night blind date, during which everything goes wrong in all the familiar ways. While individual moments seem inspired -- Davidson's frantic repossession of his co-signed car comes to mind -- the overall impression is of under-thinking. For example, screenwriter David C. Johnson sends them through a dozen of their evening's disasters before finally landing them at an engagement party for Woo's brother -- still in its early stages at 4 in the morning. Oops. The adventures of Davidson's posse in a drag bar and his chicken fetishist best friend (Dave Chappelle) in the bedroom are also best left forgotten. But Davidson himself makes a good uptight straight man, working nicely alongside Pinkett's mischievous button-pusher. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Vlasta Svoboda - Art Director, Stephanie Koules - Associate Producer, Robi Reed-Humes - Casting, Bill Carraro - Co-producer, David C. Johnson - Co-producer, Michael Clancy - Costume Designer, Danny Stillman - First Assistant Director, Daisy von Scherler Mayer - Director, Nicholas Eliopoulous - Editor, Janice Hampton - Editor, John Singleton - Executive Producer, Howard Hobson - Executive Producer, Bradford W. Smith - Executive Producer, Michel Colombier - Composer (Music Score), Bill Coleman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Ina Mayhew - Production Designer, Jean Lepine - Cinematographer, Beth Hubbard - Producer, Michael Hubbard - Producer, Owen Langevin - Sound/Sound Designer, Kelsee Devoreaux - Stunts, David C. Johnson - Screenwriter, Mike Harris - Set Decorator
Woo (Smith) is an extroverted woman living in New York City, and she has a notorious knack for turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (Girlina) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it is true. Celestrial, however, is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette (Paula Jai Parker) and Claudette's domestic partner (their status is not stated) Lenny (Dave Chapelle) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Fearing that his night alone with Claudette will be ruined, Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Davidson) to take Woo out — even though shy, straight-laced law clerk Tim is the polar opposite of the sassy and brassy Woo. That same night, Lenny and Claudette's night goes wrong when his sick obsession with chicken drives her to be forced to dress up as a sexy but awkward "chicken ho" (he makes her cluck and walk like a chicken) but she is allergic to feathers. At first, Woo expresses disinterest in the matchmaking mismatch. But when she's told that Tim is a Virgo, she decides it is fate, jumps at the chance, and immediately heads for Tim's apartment. Meanwhile, Tim, who can't believe his luck, goes next door to his neighbor Darryl (LL Cool J) for tips on romancing women. Darryl, who knows all the smooth moves, supplies Tim with incense, edible body oils, and a tape of sexy songs. When Woo arrives, Tim is completely smitten. Woo, however, discovers that Tim is anything but the sexy, spontaneous stud of her dreams. Finding Tim's pseudo-cool act totally transparent, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to exit Tim's apartment when Tim gets a visit from three of his pals — Frankie (Duane Martin), Hop (Darrel Heath), and Romaine (Michael Ralph). The chauvinistic attitude of Tim's friends irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks out the trio with wild, seemingly psycho behavior. Finally, the date gets underway. Woo and Tim arrive at a stuffy Italian restaurant, but Woo's behavior gets them thrown out. They go to a dance club, where Tim becomes the victim, punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend. Woo likes a good laugh, and when Tim discovers the theft of his flashy new car, she finds this hilarious. "Maybe we could be having a good time, if you could control your psychotic mood swings," says Tim. And so it goes, straight on till morning.
Subplot
Tim's friends: Frankie, Hop and Romaine have their own night of fun, gradually going to the same places Woo and Tim go. Unfortunately for them, they unwittingly go to a night club with mostly drag queens, but Hop doesn't know that they are drag queens, he thinks they are really women. He ends up making out and having sex with some of them but he never saw their genitals.
The film was met with mixed, though generally more negative, reviews from audiences and critics. It currently holds a 0% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes[2]. Derek Armstrong at allmovie, while giving positive reviews to stars Davidson and Smith's performances, stated that the script was "formulaic," and that the film in general was "not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet."[3] Made on a budget of $13 million, the film only grossed $8,064,972 domestically, making it a certifiable box-office flop. It was, however, a success when released on home video (originally VHS, and later DVD). It has went on to become a cult classic.
