Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer
Sanaa Lathan (Kenya) and Simon Baker (Brian Kelly) get together in 'Something New'. - CONTRIBUTED
SOMETHING NEW is not that new; it is romance, which is as old as it gets. What it presents is an enjoyable, romantic film, perfect for a little light entertainment. The newness it brings, and it is way past time that it was brought to the table, is that race should no longer be a hurdle in the romantic game.
Directed by Sanaa Hamri and written by Kriss Turner, Something New is the story of a successful woman climbing the corporate ladder and seemingly too busy for love, but hoping that it will come along. It also doesn't help that the statistics are not in her favour.
Kenya (played by Sanaa Lathan) has a lot on her plate and a significant part of it is that she feels she has to work extra hard not just as a woman, but as a black woman. So, if romance did come along, she would more than likely have to give it a rain check. But when it finally arrives, it comes in the package most likely to make her uncomfortable as it is outside her race, in the form of landscaper Brian Kelly (Simon Baker).
Her differences with Brian go much further than skin deep. The two play into the time-honoured 'opposites attract' scenario with Brian's free-spiritedness next to Kenya's consistent reserve.
SWEET, BUT NOT CLOYING
Something New has its fair share of sweetness, but refrains from getting cloying. This is greatly helped by Kenya's obsession with race which constantly gives the movie a layer of tension that does not exist in most romantic films.
The flick is quite funny, with several delightful moments, and there is a very generous helping of sexiness, in large part brought by Baker's extremely rippled physique. One really has to wonder if Kenya had her head on when she first resisted.
Its support cast is quite good. Alfre Woodard is always an excellent addition to a film and she makes a good overwhelming mother in this outing. Mike Epps gets a chance to do more than play the idiot with his small role and it is good to see him as sensible and normal. The cast also includes Blair Underwood and Donald Faison (who for some reason looks exactly as he did when he starred in Clueless).
However, Something New does not quite make it as the ultimate romantic movie (a title still held by Love Actually). This is in large part because Brian is quite gorgeous, but his character is nowhere as clearly defined as Kenya's. If it were, the movie could have been more powerful romantically, as one would develop a bond with Brian, especially when it comes time for the big declarations. As is, all we see of him is that he's a nice guy and he's gorgeous.
Overall, Something New is something lovely to behold. Lathan delivers a good performance as does Baker. To top it off, Baker is decidedly something lovely to look at.
