''Woo'' is a 1998 romantic-comedy film directed by Daisy V.S. Mayer and starring

Jada Pinkett Smith Jada Koren Pinkett Smith (; née Pinkett; born September 18, 1971) is an American actress and talk show host. She is co-host of the Facebook Watch talk show '' Red Table Talk'', for which she has received a Daytime Emmy Award. ''Time'' name ...

in the title role. Tommy Davidson also co-stars.

Plot

Darlene "Woo" Barnes (Smith), an extroverted woman living in New York City, is notoriously talented at turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (

Girlina Lina Bradford, professionally known as DJ Lina (previously known as Girlina), is an American disc jockey, dancer, and actress. Bradford was a member of the 1990s New York Club Kids scene and first performed as a DJ in 1997. She appeared in films, ...

) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it is true. Celestrial is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette ( Paula Jai Parker) and Claudette's boyfriend Lenny (

Dave Chappelle David Khari Webber Chappelle ( ; born August 24, 1973) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is best known for his satirical comedy sketch series ''Chappelle's Show'' (2003–2006), which he starred in until quitting in the middle of p ...

) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Davidson) to take Woo out, but the shy, strait-laced law clerk Tim contrasts the sassy and brassy Woo. The same night, Lenny and Claudette's night goes wrong when his 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 is unconcerned about the matchmaking mismatch, but when 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 James Todd Smith (born January 14, 1968), known professionally as LL Cool J (short for Ladies Love Cool James), is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He is one of the earliest rappers to achieve commercial success, along ...

) for tips on romancing women. Darryl 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 far from her imagined sexy, spontaneous stud. Seeing through Tim's pseudo-cool act, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to leave Tim's apartment when Tim is visited by three of his pals: Frankie ( Duane Martin), Hop (Darrel Heath), and Romaine ( Michael Ralph). The trio's chauvinistic attitude irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks them out by acting insane. 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 is punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend, whom Woo punches back. Tim repeatedly suffers many other misfortunes, but Woo realizes that Tim is the guy she wants. After Tim gets his car back, it is smashed to pieces. Woo offers to share her car and her life with Tim.

Cast

* Tommy Davidson - Tim Jackson *

- Darlene "Woo" Barnes *

- Lenny * Paula Jai Parker - Claudette *

- Darryl * Darren Heath - Hop * Duane Martin - Frankie * Dartanyan Edmonds - Shakim *

- Celestrial * Lance Slaughter - Lamar * Michael Ralph - Romaine * Paula Jai Parker * Tiffany Hall - Denise * Foxy Brown - Fiance *

Nicci Gilbert Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert (born July 8, 1970) is an American R&B singer. She is mainly known for being the former lead vocalist of an American female R&B girl-group Brownstone who rose to fame in the mid 1990s best known for their 1995 hit single ...

- Crayola * Aida Turturro - Tookie *

Joanna Bacalso Joanna Bacalso is a Filipino-Canadian television and movie actress and former model. Early life Bacalso was born in Cebu, Philippines, and moved to Toronto, Ontario with her two younger brothers when she was eight years old. Career Represented ...

- Stunning Woman * Lenny Solomon - Violin Player * Jsu Garcia - Maitre d' *

Philip Akin Philip Akin (born April 18, 1950) is a Canadian actor. Akin has had roles in major American films such as '' The Sum of All Fears'', '' S.W.A.T.'', and '' Get Rich or Die Tryin. He has also done much voice work, including voicing the characte ...

- Roger Smith * Natalie Venetia Belcon - Hootchie * Buddy Lewis - Bartender *

- Crayola *

Orlando Jones Orlando Jones (born April 10, 1968) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He is known for being one of the original cast members of the sketch comedy series '' MADtv'', for his role as the 7 Up spokesman from 1999 to 2002, and for his role ...

- Sticky Fingas *

Billy Dee Williams William December Williams Jr. (born April 6, 1937) is an American actor. He appeared as Lando Calrissian in the '' Star Wars'' franchise, first in the early 1980s for ''The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980) and ''Return of the Jedi'' (1983), and thir ...

- Himself

Reception

The film was met with negative reviews from audiences and critics. It holds a 10% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews, with an _It_was,_however,_a_success_when_released_on_home_video.

_Soundtrack

A_soundtrack_containing_Hip_hop_music.html" ;"title="verage score of 3.53/10. 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." Made on a budget of $13 million, the film grossed $8,064,972 domestically, making it a box-office flop. It was, however, a success when released on home video.

Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing Hip hop music">hip hop and R&B music was released on May 5, 1998 through Epic Records. It peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

References

External links

* * {{Daisy von Scherler Mayer 1998 films 1998 romantic comedy films African-American films Films directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer Films scored by Michel Colombier New Line Cinema films American romantic comedy films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films