Juwanna Mann (JM) is a universal comedy that delivers a number of subtle moral messages. Shortly before the film opened on June 21, George had an opportunity to talk with Tommy Davidson ("Bamboozled," "Strictly Business") and Kim Wayans ("My Wife & Kids"-TV, and sister of the Wayans brothers); and gain insight into how they feel about the film.

Tommy's perspective on the film is that it gave him a tremendous amount of freedom to make a "stunningly funny" movie. While there are numerous films that fit in the comedy genre, few are able to be satirical while delivering a moral message and without getting people bent out of shape. Davidson understands this better than most as he played a key role in the controversial Spike Lee film "Bamboozled," which only played in a handful of theaters in the Chicago area. It too was a satire, but with a Spike Lee attitude and insistence on posters featuring black actors in black face, the film found major newspapers not accepting ads and distributors reluctant to give it a chance for box office success. "Juwanna Mann" will open on at least 1,500 screens.

Not many people appreciated "Bamboozled," one of my top 10 films of 2000, because not many people knew it was playing in the few places it could be seen. "Juwanna Mann" should do well at the box office and deservedly so. If it can open at $7-10 million and top out at $25-30 million, Tommy and Kim will be able to get the financial backing they need for future projects.

I mention "Bamboozled" not only because Davidson was in it but because in this case, I think a worthy message will be delivered to many that need to see and hear it. As Tommy said, "Who we think we are has nothing to do with what we are about." Often when many of us attain our goals, we are not the people we were when the journey began; that's really what JM is all about. Well, it's the part of the movie that is easy to absorb and makes the film entertaining.

While Kim agrees with my assessment that the film has a "chick flick" flavor to it, she says it's much more than that. She believes "…it's all about self respect" and this is one of the areas that I found intriguing with the film. Before you can justifiably demand respect, you must respect yourself.

The Staples Singers were onto something when they sang "respect yourself" much along the line of Aretha back in the late 60's when she gave us her classic song on the subject. Respect is the core issue with Davidson's character Jamal and the fact that Kim plays a lesbian basketball player is an important secondary point-that there are gays in all sports (men and women) and that we should respect them for who they are.

A second important moral message relates to knowledge. Knowing how to fit into your ethnic group as compared to the "…folks downtown, that act proper" is something that young folks need to understand. Inappropriate dress, gold teeth and mispronouncing every day words can show the "outside" world that you are not as ready as you want to be or think you are.

Tommy first saw the film as a character driven comedy before it was made and after seeing it in the theater he noted the added dimension of a moral story that addresses the importance of a "healthy balance" in one's life.

Being a critic and doing an interview does not require that one put their soul on the line. A director or actor puts it out there for all to see. Kim aspires to develop her own TV sit-com in the near future and Tommy wants to be seen as a comedian with something worthwhile to say who happens to be black, as compared to just a funny black man.

The film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" appealed to a cross section of ethnic groups and various ages; hopefully, "Juwanna Mann" will generate good box office as well. In a `best possible scenario' Tommy will get a chance to do comedic and dramatic films and Kim will gain the name recognition to propel her in the direction of her own sit-com. That's the American way.