Jumping the Broom

The ads that make Jumping the Broom look like a culture-clash comedy don't quite tell the whole story. What laughs there exist mostly at the fringes of this drama produced by pastor/author T.D. Jakes, whose brief appearance onscreen as a minister is supposed to help us see God amidst all the heavy confrontations. I would have bought into Jumping the Broom more if I truly believed that Jason (Laz Alonso) and Sabrina (Paula Patton) came from different worlds, but by the time they meet Jason is already a successful investment banker who can swing getting El Debarge to serenade Sabrina. Most of the movie takes place at the Martha's Vineyard estate of Sabrina's affected parents. (Even the maid is a snob.) Angela Bassett spits glass as Sabrina's mother; is there nothing for Bassett to do in films anymore other than play unhappy women? Jason's mother (Loretta Devine) shows up and behaves abominably for most of the movie, but the irony of her attempts to prevent something that has already happened (Jason's entrance into a different level of society) is never addressed. Whether the wedding itself will occur is eventually called into question, and while we're waiting Mike Epps romps through the movie as Jason's uncle. Epps tosses off one-liners that don't feel scripted and is the only character not existing inside of a melodrama. The more interesting couple is Sabrina's social-climbing friend (Meagan Good) and the earthy chef (Gary Dourdan), genuinely surprised by their attraction. I wanted more time with these two while the families sorted things out. Jumping the Broom has its small pleasures (Julie Bowen as an awkward wedding planner), but a story with potential to say something about class and aspiration gets stifled by all the good intentions.