JUWANNA MANN
US, 2002, 95 minutes, Colour.
Miguel Nunez Jnr, Viveca A. Fox, Kevin Pollak, Jennifer Lewis, Kim Wayans, Annie Corley.
Directed by Jesse Fields.
You've seen Tootsie. You've seen Some Like it Hot. You've seen Mrs Doubtfire. You might have seen Priscilla and To Wong Foo. Perhaps you've even seen Big Moma's House. So, you might guess what Juwanna Mann (Do ya wanna man) is about. It's not particularly startling but is watchable enough while it is up there in front of you.
Miguel Nunez Jr is Jamal, the vainest, most recalcitrant basketball star in the league. His philosophy of life is 'me, me, me'. When the tribunal finds that his ego is bigger than his talent, his friends desert him and his agent (nicely played by Kevin Pollak) can no longer be his friend. Walking home from shopping for his wise aunt, he gets a brainwave: women's basketball. He becomes Juwanna Mann. With the help of the girls, especially Michelle (Vivica A.Fox), (s)he learns teamwork and becomes a really nice lady and girlfriend. It all ends happily with the moral of sharing with others, believing in one's talent and in true love (what else?). Actually, Miguel Nunez is convincing in his arrogant male role and looks the part quite believably as Juwanna. An undemanding little moral comedy.
1. An entertaining Tootsie-like comedy? The role reversal? The moral fable about teamwork and letting go of ego?
2. The intended audience, the African- American audience? Wider audiences?
3. The sports background, basketball, men's and women's basketball?
4. The Los Angeles settings, homes, sports arenas?
5. Sports stars and the media, arrogant, the autograph stamp, Jamal hogging the ball, the role of the referees, the commentators, coaches, agents?
6. Jamal, his skill at sport, his consciousness of his image, his personality, the autograph, the fans, selfishness at the game, his stripping and offensive behaviour, the party afterwards, the women, his treatment of the staff, their leaving, his friends going when he was sacked, broke after extravagant spending?
7. The rules of the game, the commission, penalties, the issues of role models, his being suspended? Contracts, moral clauses? His outburst at the tribunal? The comment about his ego being bigger than his talent?
8. Loren Daniels, his agent, working for him, breaking with him, at the tribunal? His being contacted by Jamal, doing the deal with the Charlotte Banshees? Learning the truth? His antagonism towards Jamal? The promotions of goods coming in, his agent's fee, arranging a meeting with the tribunal, soft-talking them, his going to the match to watch Jamal win?
9. Aunt Ruby, her home, tough, at the phone with Jamal, telling him home truths? Playing cards with her girlfriends? Giving him advice, getting him to make a final choice?
10. Jamal down and out, the kids and their insulting him, his going to the agent, his transformation into Juawanna? His looking believable? The difficult parts of acting, with the girls, in the showers, massage, hair, the policeman holding him up and discussing the sex-change? The doctor and the physical?
11. The tryout, with the coach, with his fellow players, the interview with Loren?
12. The games, his ego again, hogging the ball, learning, the coach persuading Michelle to talk with him?
13. Michelle, her place in the team, antagonism towards Juawanna, her love for Romeo, the coach urging her to cooperate, their working together, becoming friends? Disillusionment with Romeo? Learning the truth, her hostile reaction? Supporting Jamal at the tribunal?
14. Romeo, singing the national anthem, his ego? Puff and his flirting with Juawanna, even after finding out she was a man? Romeo and his two-timing?
15. Letitia, the Serb girl, the members of the team, the coach and her personality? The winning matches, the commentators? The final match, their being dispirited, Jamal's pep-talk and their winning?
16. Jamal and his changing, winning the game ball, giving it to the Serb girl, shaving, sharing the apartment, becoming more human, sending the flowers - just because it's Wednesday?
17. His dilemma about going to the tribunal or going to the game? The wig coming off? His being exposed?
18. His disillusionment with himself, change, the bad game and his pep-talk, the star versus the team, sending flowers to Michelle? The tribunal and their support? The happy ending?
