HANGING WITH THE HOMEBOYS
A film review by Lon Ponschock
Copyright 1992 Lon Ponschock
Directed and Written by Joseph Vasquez Rated R for extensive use of "street language"
We saw the trailers for this film as long ago as last summer, if memory serves, but the show got buried amidst the release of other larger 'street' films such as BOYZ 'N THE HOOD and NEW JACK CITY.
That is a shame because, though the teasers would lead one to believe that this is another show about juveniles with their hats on backwards, the reality is that HANGING WITH THE HOMEBOYS owes more to such serious works as the play MARTY done many years ago.
The film follows four young men, two Black and two Hispanic, on a Friday night on the town in New York.
There is much good humor in this film but there is another element that goes beyond the average "on the town" adventure. The director, who also wrote the show and dedicates the film to those of his friends who inspired it, manages to reveal some uneasy truths.
A fine ensemble cast including Mario Joyner and John Leguizamo play off of each other nearly perfectly. Nestor Serrano is a new name to film and his character of "Vinny" is memorable. Watch for this fine actor in newer films. Doug E. Doug rounds out the ensemble as a militant but misguided young man.
HANGING WITH THE HOMEBOYS gets full recommendation for the kind of acting and drama which is normally only available to a stage audience. It is a small film with a lot to say.
-- lon@edsi.plexus.com
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