Just Wright
(PG) 100min
Future definitions of the word ‘mawkish’ may well include a synopsis of Just Wright, a truly lame sporting rom-com in which the romance is as tepid as the comedy. The usually personable Queen Latifah (Chicago) plays lovelorn physiotherapist Leslie Wright, who improbably shares her flat with gold-digger Morgan Alexander (Paula Patton, the teacher from Precious). When the two women fall for basketball star Scott McKnight (played by the rapper Common), Leslie quickly loses out to Morgan for his affections. Yet a potentially career-ending sports injury gives Leslie another chance to win his heart, as she massages him off the treatment table and back into the sports arena.
Given the pedestrian nature of Just Wright’s simplistic story, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 director Sanaa Hamri might have added broad comedy or even kinetic sports action to liven up proceedings. But instead, she drags the narrative pace down to slow motion levels, making for a bland venture that makes The Blind Side seem as irreverent as Slap Shot.
General release, Fri 17 Sep.