There are some smart ideas and pleasant performances in ``Hav Plenty,'' an attempt at a modern screwball comedy involving several affluent African-Americans, and it's easy to admire writer Christopher Scott Cherot's ambitions - especially after such recent low-brow turkeys as ``Ride'' and ``I Got The Hook-Up.''
But though its heart is in the right place, ``Plenty'' doesn't quite click. Perhaps in the end Cherot spread himself a bit too thin: In addition to authoring the screenplay, he also produced, directed, edited and starred in his movie.
It's his performance as homeless young writer Lee Plenty that handicaps the picture most severely, since, in order for the story to work, we must believe Lee is a charmer who proves to be prime date-bait for the women he meets. Though Cherot dons a threadbare sweater and tattered jeans to look suitably down-at-the-heels, the charisma the part requires eludes him. He tries to make up for this lack of sparkle by playing cute - blowing bubbles in his juice with a straw, affecting a hangdog look, making little asides to the audience - and few things are less attractive than adults trying to be adorable.
In form, ``Plenty'' is vaguely similar to director Paul Mazursky's fondly remembered ``Down and Out In Beverly Hills.'' Lee, living in his car since he lost his lease on a New York apartment, accepts a last-minute invitation from sophisticated friend Havilland Savage (Chenoa Maxwell) to spend New Year's Eve at her family's home in Washington. Once in the house, Lee is practically attacked by Havilland's lusty pal Caroline (Tammi Katherine Jones), Havilland's unhappily married sister Leigh (Robbine Lee) and, finally, by Havilland herself.
The ladies just can't resist ... the discreet charm of the destitute? Whatever allure Lee possesses, it's not on-screen. Sex and nudity are also conspicuous in their absence, sort of a surprise in a movie of this type.
Cherot's direction is more assured than his acting, and he gets generally strong performances from his cast. Lee and Maxwell make strong impressions, generating a sisterly friction that feels true-to-life, and Hill Harper appears to be having some serious fun as a Puff Daddy-ish musical impressario.
If the cinematography by Kerwin De Vonish is sometimes a bit on the fuzzy side, it's worth noting that ``Hav Plenty'' was made for only $65,000, a pittance by Hollywood standards. Even so, Cherot managed to attract Kenneth ``Babyface'' Edwards to supply a seductive soundtrack, including a Babyface/Des'ree cover of Bruce Springsteen's ``Fire'' that undoubtedly will burn up the charts this summer.
James Sanford
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