I LIKE IT LIKE THAT
A film review by Raymond Johnston
Copyright 1994 Raymond Johnston
Director: Darnell Martin Starring: Lauren Velez, Jon Seda, Rita Moreno, Griffin Dunne
Darnell Martin complained that the distribution company was marketing her film based on the fact that she is a minority woman. She felt it implied the film otherwise wasn't very good, and needed special consideration. The film is good, however; quite good. Part of what makes it original is the fact that a minority woman is the lead character. Even in the new wave of minority written and produced films, women are often relegated into demeaning stereotypical roles. Lauren Velez,who plays the central character in this film, breaks out of these stereotypes. She is average looking and intelligent, unlike the bubble-headed beauty queens that generally populate films. It is the men in her Bronx, New York neighborhood that become cartoonish stereotypes. Her husband, played by Job Seda, is more concerned with the perception of his machismo than providing for his family. His friends are an affably misguided group of ne'er-do-wells.
The plot walks a fine line between reality and satire. Elements like a transvestite brother saving money for a sex change, a hot-to-trot neighbor, and a WASP salsa record promoter (Griffin Dunne) could have been easily lampooned. Director Darnell Martin chose the hard road and treats all the characters with respect. This makes the problems that the lead character faces, like getting enough money to keep her family off of welfare, real problems. The events leading up to her financial situation have a funny side to them, but after the few jokes, the situation remains. It is here that Darnell Martin makes her statements. The male characters are willing enough to be around for the good time, but unwilling to deal with the aftermath. Unclaimed or unsupervised children abound in the film, with women characters begging the fathers to own up to their responsibility. Men want women for show at parties, but have to be blackmailed into letting them actually use their mental talents on a daily basis.
If the film broke down into the men being buffoons and the women being abused saints, it would be easy to dismiss the film as a diatribe. Fortunately, some of the female characters are willing enough to make fools of themselves. Oscar winner (for WEST SIDE STORY) Rita Moreno paints an unflattering comic portrait of the intrusive mother-in-law. She dislikes Velez because she has some African heritage, while all of her son's side of the family is "pure Castillian". The one character that makes the most sense is the transvestite.
This film is another low budget wonder. It manages to be part Cinderella story, while still letting people solve their own problems. A lot of films recently have shown the exteriors of lower income urban neighborhoods, only to show lavish sound stage interiors inhabited by rich drug lords. I LIKE IT LIKE THAT takes you inside to see how real people live.
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