Just Wright

Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a dedicated physical therapist who loves basketball and wants to find Mr. Right, one whom she’ll simply be unable to live without. Completely the opposite, Leslie’s childhood friend Morgan (Paula Patton) strives to become a pro player’s trophy wife. While at a gas station, Leslie has a chance encounter with Nets’ player Scott McKnight (Common). While bonding over music, he invites her to his exclusive birthday party. Leslie invites her friend along and upon seeing Morgan, McKnight immediately becomes smitten.

During crucial contract negotiations, McKnight’s career is jeopardized when he tears his tendon. Not trusting the beautiful physical therapist assigned to her fiancée, Morgan asks Leslie to take over the position. With McKnight’s injury severe and her chances of becoming a trophy wife slim, Morgan bolts. Unlike her best friend, Leslie remains faithful and helps McKnight recover from his injury. As time passes, the two get to know each other and slowly fall in love.

“Just Wright” has many positives going for it. Queen Latifah and Common act well in the lead roles, and their characters are likable. While Leslie does want love to come her way, she doesn’t mope around bitterly awaiting its arrival. She’s a normal woman with a steady job and even has a good relationship with her parents.

The script takes the time for the couple to actually converse and fall in love. They treat each other lovingly, and McKnight gives Wright one of the most thoughtful gifts, in place of the overly used luxurious diamonds. The movie is also refreshingly absent of stereotypical jocks and antagonists. The pro players are actually nice to each other and even greet the opposing team players after a game, and Morgan gracefully does the right thing near the end of the film.

Although good in many areas, “Just Wright” is almost a bland movie. Formulaic to the core, it offers nothing unique or noteworthy to the romantic comedy genre. There are only a few chuckles and scarce plot conflict. And with the two leads having almost no character flaws, the movie becomes almost too syrupy sweet from beginning to end.

By today’s standards, the film is low in objectionable content. There is one use of BS and d*mn and four uses of as*. God’s name is also profaned 6 times. Morgan states that while people have “gaydars,” she has a “hoedar.” Throughout the entire film, most of the women wear very low-cut dresses and shirts. While alone, Queen Latifah grabs her breasts and wonders if she’s “fishing in the wrong river.” There are about 4 kissing scenes throughout the movie, but they are not overly passionate. During their engagement, Morgan and McKnight live together; Leslie also moves in while giving physical therapy to McKnight. Though there are no actual love scenes, the main characters do sleep together. Their clothes are shown lying on the floor while they lay together in bed underneath the sheets.

In the film, Leslie is 35 years old and tired of falling into the “just friends” category. Her parents still reaffirm that her special one is out there, but it’s hard for Leslie to remain completely confident. Waiting for God to send a suitable spouse takes patience and complete trust. While having a companion makes this temporary life more pleasant, we must remember that our relationship with Christ is the most important of all. And once it’s strongly established, everything else will fall into place, according to God’s will. In Matthew 6:33, it reads:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

Whether or not to see this movie depends on one’s personal preference. The objectionable content is relatively low, and the characters are sweet to one another. However, I personally found it to be a rather mediocre movie, one with a strong cast but lacking script. Adding some rough edges would have made this overly sweet film more realistic and relatable. However, it is definitely one of the cleaner, better movies out today.

Violence: Minor / Profanity: Mild / Sex/Nudity: Moderate

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