Woo (film)

Woo is a 1998 romantic-comedy film directed by Daisy V.S. Mayer and starring Jada Pinkett Smith in the title role. Tommy Davidson co-stars. Woo was filmed in 1996.

Woo
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDaisy V.S. Mayer
Produced byBeth Hubbard
Bill Carraro
Bradford W. Smith
David C. Johnson
Howard Hobson
John Singleton
Michael Hubbard
Stephanie Koules
Written byDavid C. Johnson
Starring
Music byMichel Colombier
CinematographyJean Lépine
Edited byJanice Hampton
Nicholas Eliopoulos
Distributed byNew Line Cinema
Release date
  • May 8, 1998 (1998-05-08) (United States)
  • September 25, 1998 (1998-09-25) (United Kingdom)
  • July 2, 1999 (1999-07-02) (Italy)
Running time
84 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million
Box office$8,165,984[1]

Plot

Woo (Smith) is an extroverted woman living in New York City, and she has a notorious knack for turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (Girlina) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it is true. Celestrial is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette (Paula Jai Parker) and Claudette's boyfriend Lenny (Dave Chappelle) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Davidson) to take Woo out, but the shy, strait-laced law clerk Tim is the polar opposite of the sassy and brassy Woo. The same night, Lenny and Claudette's night goes wrong when his obsession with chicken drives her to be forced to dress up as a sexy but awkward "chicken ho" (he makes her cluck and walk like a chicken) but she is allergic to feathers.

At first, Woo expresses disinterest in the matchmaking mismatch, but when she's told that Tim is a Virgo, she decides it is fate, jumps at the chance, and immediately heads for Tim's apartment. Meanwhile, Tim, who can't believe his luck, goes next door to his neighbor Darryl (LL Cool J) for tips on romancing women. Darryl supplies Tim with incense, edible body oils, and a tape of sexy songs. When Woo arrives, Tim is completely smitten. Woo, however, discovers that Tim is anything but the sexy, spontaneous stud of her dreams. Finding Tim's pseudo-cool act totally transparent, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to leave Tim's apartment when Tim is visited by three of his pals: Frankie (Duane Martin), Hop (Darrel Heath), and Romaine (Michael Ralph). The chauvinistic attitude of Tim's friends irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks out the trio by acting insane. Finally, the date gets underway. Woo and Tim arrive at a stuffy Italian restaurant, but Woo's behavior gets them thrown out. They go to a dance club, where Tim becomes the victim, punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend. Woo punches the boyfriend back. Tim becomes a repeated victim of a lot of other misfortunes, but Woo realizes that Tim is the guy she wants. After Tim gets his car back, it is smashed to pieces. Woo offers to share her car and her life with Tim.

Cast

Reception

The film was met with negative reviews from audiences and critics.[2][3] It holds a 10% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes, based on 40 reviews, with an [average score of 3.53/10.[4] Derek Armstrong at Allmovie, while giving positive reviews to stars Davidson and Smith's performances, stated that the script was "formulaic", and that the film in general was "not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet."[5] Made on a budget of $13 million, the film grossed $8,064,972 domestically, making it a box-office flop.[6] It was, however, a success when released on home video.

Soundtrack
Main article: Woo (soundtrack)

A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on May 5, 1998 through Epic Records. It peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.

References
  1. "Woo". Box Office Mojo. IMDb.com. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  2. "'Woo' Loaded With Attitude, Vulgarity". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  3. "FILM REVIEW; Brawling, Humiliation And Theft, All on the First Date". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
  4. "Woo (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  5. Armstrong, Derek. "Woo (1998)". Allmovie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  6. "Deep Impact Exceeds Expectations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-31.
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