Talking tough to NBA all-star Scott McKnight (Common), who’s suffered a career-threatening injury, physical therapist and diehard New Jersey Nets fan (do these exist?) Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) warns him: “You’re gonna hate me when I’m through with you.” But, really, who could hate Latifah?
Especially when it’s so easy to hate the trite Cinderella tale at the center of Michael Elliot’s script for this rom-com from Sanaa Hamri (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2). As glossy as you might expect (Hamri cut her teeth directing music videos), the film double-dribbles with its familiar story of the ugly duckling who wins the swan — even if it’s usually the man who plays the overweight loser.
It’s sad to see Latifah’s talent squandered on such clichés. Even worse is Paula Patton’s role as Wright’s golddigging godsister, who dreams of being an NBA trophy wife. Bench this fairy tale.
