Zebrahead

This urban love story-cum-sociological drama packs some fine performances, choice dialogue, and keen insight before it takes a sharp left turn and sinks in muddy political waters. Michael Rapaport deserves every job he ever landed on the strength of his performance here. Playing a cultural chameleon with a wry sense of humor, Barry White-bedroom moves, and a lot of paternal resentment, Rapaport lets his character's many layers creep into focus only when necessary. The pent-up conflicts between Zack and his slothful, sex-obsessed father give Rapaport and Ray Sharkey plenty of sharply written little scenes. Drazan also includes all sorts of small details about Zack's family and about Detroit itself that lend the character an air of authenticity and give the story a subtle depth. Unfortunately, the screenplay doesn't devote as much detail to N'Bushe Wright's Nikki, who's pretty much defined by her relationships to Zack and her family. Still, the actress does what she can with an underwritten role, and there are some nice scenes between Nikki and her fierce mother, played superbly by Candy Ann Brown. The rest of the principals prove uniformly fine, from DeShonn Castle's affable, wisecracking Dee to Ron Johnson's thuggish but charismatic Nut. If Drazan simply allowed these characters to act as they would in real life, Zebrahead would be a better film. Instead, the director throws in overwrought plot developments and lots of debates in which minor characters espouse philosophical viewpoints with all the naturalism of sock puppets. Thankfully, most of this nonsense occurs in the film's final reel, making most of Zebrahead a pleasure to watch. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide