run of the mill, with a few good laughs along the way
Dirty Laundry (2007)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:12
Fresh:6
Rotten:6
Average Rating:4.8/10
Synopsis: CHAPPELLE'S SHOW favorite Maurice Jamal directs and stars in this comedy about a gay man (Rockmond Dunbar, PRISON BREAK) who returns home to his southern family after a long absence. Loretta Devine... CHAPPELLE'S SHOW favorite Maurice Jamal directs and stars in this comedy about a gay man (Rockmond Dunbar, PRISON BREAK) who returns home to his southern family after a long absence. Loretta Devine and Jenifer Lewis costar. [More]
Starring: Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis, Terri J. Vaughn
Starring: Rockmond Dunbar, Loretta Devine, Jenifer Lewis, Terri J. Vaughn, Sommore, Veronica Webb, Bobby Jones, Maurice Jamal
Director: Maurice Jamal
Director: Maurice Jamal
Screenwriter: Maurice Jamal
Producer: Andre Lee, ReShaun Frear, Rockmond Dunbar
Composer: Earl Wooten
Studio: BiggerEpic
Reviews for Dirty Laundry
Is it sidesplitting? No, but it's cute. Is it wonderfully wicked? No, but it's got a few twists and turns. Is it a classic? Probably not, but it's an encouraging move into a new kind of gay film and a story not often told.
By far the best of a plethora of holiday family-reunion films, Maurice Jamal's warmly hilarious Dirty Laundry is particularly blessed with the presence of Loretta Devine
Jamal's comedy of family dysfunction is essentially a sitcom episode writ large; it's not subtle, but it's good-natured and hits its marks with ruthless efficiency.
The tone is good-natured enough to make a simple movie semi-watchable.
Looking for plot holes? You can't miss them. But if you go in hoping for a good time, you'll find that, too.
Mr. Jamal's direction ranges from clumsy to competent. Fortunately, even as Mr. Jamal's characters hit notes reminiscent of a half-baked television pilot, they disclose eccentricities that his cast spins into comic gold.
Even though homophobia may be more of a hurdle in the 'hood than Hollywood, this ensemble's supportive response to Sheldon's revealing his sexual preference proves to be a surprisingly sweet way to close out this well-meaning message movie.
Overwritten and under-directed by Maurice Jamal, the movie contains several honest moments but remains too awash in clichés and stereotypes to take seriously.
The film's plea for tolerance is commendable but would have more weight if only it were executed with more panache.
Visually dull, without an ounce of cinematic purpose, pic will work most effectively on the small screen.
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