| 91 |
Entertainment Weekly
Lathan, charismatic and beautifully strong, holds the screen in every scene.
|
| 90 |
Los Angeles Times
Eric Harrison
In her first feature, writer-director Gina Prince-Bythewood tells a familiar tale with first-rate acting and an underlying sense of authenticity.
|
| 88 |
Boston Globe
The cinematic equivalent of a high, arching rainbow of a three-pointer from midcourt.
|
| 88 |
Baltimore Sun
The conventional and the cliche are slam-dunked in favor of a fresh, authentic take on passion, ambition and coming of age.
|
| 88 |
New York Daily News
Makes hoops look like the sexiest game in town.
|
| 83 |
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Sean Oxmaker
Uses sports as metaphor for life with rare twist.
|
| 80 |
Film.com
A startling debut full of emotional depth and political punch.
|
| 80 |
LA Weekly
Although the writing and the directing are smart and purposeful, the movie takes flight on the strength of its performances.
|
| 75 |
Mr. Showbiz
It's a tad too generic to be a slam dunk.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Chronicle
Love and basketball -- if you like either one, here is a movie for you.
|
| 75 |
Charlotte Observer
Any critic likes to predict the rise of a star, so let me introduce you to Gina Prince-Bythewood.
|
| 75 |
Chicago Sun-Times
Not as taut as it could have been, but I prefer its emotional perception to the pumped-up sports cliches I was sort of expecting.
|
| 75 |
Chicago Tribune
Marc Caro
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.
|
| 75 |
Miami Herald
Phoebe Flowers
Never 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.
|
| 75 |
San Francisco Examiner
Prince-Bythewood's movie is an occasionally clunky, mostly engaging coming out party for herself.
|
| 70 |
Film.com
It's Lathan -- with her passionate performance, physical grace and drop-dead-gorgeous looks -- who makes Love and Basketball so entertaining.
|
| 70 |
Variety
The 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.
|
| 70 |
The New York Times
It's in the small touches that this movie comes alive, and it's rare that directors can pull off this kind of thing.
|
| 70 |
Village Voice
Prince-Bythewood gives the film a style that's easy on the eye but also has muscle -- on and off the court.
|
| 70 |
Washington Post
This one has crossover hit written all over it.
|
| 70 |
Chicago Reader
The lush, emotional scenes are enhanced by the sound track.
|
| 67 |
Austin Chronicle
The fact that the blatantly thumbtacked-on happy ending plays as unvarnished fairy tale adds a definite bittersweet tang of irony.
|
| 63 |
USA Today
One wishes producer Spike Lee had stepped in to give the dialogue some sass.
|
| 60 |
TV Guide
The movie's performances, especially Lathan's, are strong enough to balance out the sometimes-clichéd script.
|
| 58 |
Portland Oregonian
The film's best sequences -- the troubles of the young woman -- are gems adrift in a sea of Jell-O.
|
| 50 |
Newsweek
Andrea C. Basora
While the first half showcases an impressive new directorial talent, the last two quarters fail to score.
|
| 50 |
New York Post
Strong cast is defeated by a labored, screenplay in this overlong, clunky love story.
|
| 20 |
Dallas Observer
A film built upon transitions so weak and obvious it's astonishing the entire thing doesn't collapse on itself.
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