Arts & Entertainment

Fairy-tale 'Eva' an urban flick for all

By Ray Hafner
The Daily Cougar

Gary Hardwickis new romantic comedy, Deliver Us from Eva, spins an urban fairytale complete with a white horse thatill have any lady in the audience swooning. Fortunately for the guys they drag along. Eva is also packed with the sort of laughs thatill have the more burlesque gender in stitches.

The premise, in which three guys involved in relationships with three of the Dandridge sisters plot to get the fourth and eldest sister off their back, ought to resonate with anyone who hates their in-laws. 

Gabrielle Union stars as the titular Eva, and her manic rants comparing herself to Martin Luther King Jr. are some of the films funniest moments. Union is the strongest of this ensemble cast, and while the picture doesnit hang on her shoulders, it could.

Duane Martin, Mel Jackson and Dartanyan Edmonds star as the Three Stooges-esque guys who enlist LL Cool Jay, as Ray, to make Eva fall in love -- thereby getting her off their backs.

The Eva character is based on Kate from Shakespeareis Taming of the Shrew, and much like the play it turns out Eva isnit such a monster. 

What elevates this film, though, is the genuinely funny cast. Edmonds stands out as the loudmouth of the bunch, and when he gets with his sweetie (played deliciously by Meagan Good) just wants to cuddle.

The film gets a little wacky towards the end, and asks the audience to suspend their disbelief almost entirely. Thereis also a little bit of Reservoir Dogs when the guys kidnap Ray and chain him up in a warehouse. Some might expect Micheal Madsen to make an appearance and ask, "Is this thing on?"

Hardwick is emerging as the preeminent voice on the African-American dating game, although in Eva race is hardly ever mentioned. His previous work in The Brothers helped establish that.

So go on guys, donit worry, your dates will enjoy it and you might too. If itis her night to pick and the other option is the suicidal, depressing The Hours youid be wise to push this way.

Deliver us from Eva

Focus Features

Starring: Gabrielle Union and LL Cool J

The verdict: Make sure to stick around after the credits for the movieis best laugh.
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