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91Lathan, charismatic and beautifully strong, holds the screen in every scene.
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In her first feature, writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood tells a familiar tale with first-rate acting and an underlying sense of authenticity.
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88Makes hoops look like the sexiest game in town.
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88The cinematic equivalent of a high, arching rainbow of a three-pointer from midcourt.
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88The conventional and the cliche are slam-dunked in favor of a fresh, authentic take on passion, ambition and coming of age.
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Uses sports as metaphor for life with rare twist.
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80Although the writing and the directing are smart and purposeful, the movie takes flight on the strength of its performances.
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80A startling debut full of emotional depth and political punch.
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75It's a tad too generic to be a slam dunk.
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75Not as taut as it could have been, but I prefer its emotional perception to the pumped-up sports cliches I was sort of expecting.
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The biggest missteps come toward the end, when Prince-Bythewood's storybook instincts get the best of her and force a wrap-up that doesn't feel earned.
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75Never really more than an amiable Cinderella story, but it leavens its subject with such heart, such idealism and such pure eroticism that it's nearly a total success.
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75Love and basketball -- if you like either one, here is a movie for you.
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75Prince-Bythewood's movie is an occasionally clunky, mostly engaging coming out party for herself.
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75Any critic likes to predict the rise of a star, so let me introduce you to Gina Prince-Bythewood.
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70Prince-Bythewood gives the film a style that's easy on the eye but also has muscle -- on and off the court.
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70It's Lathan -- with her passionate performance, physical grace and drop-dead-gorgeous looks -- who makes Love and Basketball so entertaining.
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70It's in the small touches that this movie comes alive, and it's rare that directors can pull off this kind of thing.
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70The pic is so well directed and lead performance by Sanaa Lathan so charismatic that audiences will overlook the script's flaws and root for the central duo.
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70This one has crossover hit written all over it.
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70The lush, emotional scenes are enhanced by the sound track.
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67The fact that the blatantly thumbtacked-on happy ending plays as unvarnished fairy tale adds a definite bittersweet tang of irony.
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63One wishes producer Spike Lee had stepped in to give the dialogue some sass.
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60The movie's performances, especially Lathan's, are strong enough to balance out the sometimes-clichéd script.
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58The film's best sequences -- the troubles of the young woman -- are gems adrift in a sea of Jell-O.
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50Strong cast is defeated by a labored, screenplay in this overlong, clunky love story.
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50While the first half showcases an impressive new directorial talent, the last two quarters fail to score.
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20A film built upon transitions so weak and obvious it's astonishing the entire thing doesn't collapse on itself.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 50 out of 52
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Mixed: 0 out of 52
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Negative: 2 out of 52
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WesM.1
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KeishlaR.10This movie is true fairy tale with real life problems and a sweet twist.
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KimyanaG.10I love this movie everytime i break up with my boyfriends i would turn this movie on because its fun and depressing at the same time.