Something New is a well written and enjoyable film. Two characters from different racial backgrounds meet fall in love and cope with prejudice. Kenya McQueen (Sanaa Lathan) is a successful L.A. career woman (Stanford, Wharton). Kenya is black and looking for a boyfriend but can't find the right brother (this is how the characters talk). Kenya agrees to a blind date with Brian Kelly (Simon Baker) who is white and a landscape architect. Kenya is initially repelled by the idea of dating a white guy, but she falls for Brian as he remodels her yard. He's a free spirit and scruffy. She is uptight and anal. In this movie opposites attract and they become a couple. Inevitably boy loses girl before the denouement.
The movie is also about prejudice. In most Hollywood movies about race its usually the white people who are blamed for bigotry, but in this film Brian has a hard time being accepted by Kenya and her family. Kenya's father is a wealthy doctor and her mother played by Alfre Woodard is socially ambitious. Her younger brother Nelsen (the surgeon from Scrubs) is a lawyer, and disapproves of the relationship. He tries to steer Kenya toward his mentor Blair Underwood. Underwood is a handsome and successful lawyer and the ideal catch. Kenya's girlfriends Cheryl, Suzzette, and Nedra provide advice and wit.
The movie is well acted and the director (Sanaa Hamri) and writer (Kriss Turner) do an excellent job.
The movie is also about prejudice. In most Hollywood movies about race its usually the white people who are blamed for bigotry, but in this film Brian has a hard time being accepted by Kenya and her family. Kenya's father is a wealthy doctor and her mother played by Alfre Woodard is socially ambitious. Her younger brother Nelsen (the surgeon from Scrubs) is a lawyer, and disapproves of the relationship. He tries to steer Kenya toward his mentor Blair Underwood. Underwood is a handsome and successful lawyer and the ideal catch. Kenya's girlfriends Cheryl, Suzzette, and Nedra provide advice and wit.
The movie is well acted and the director (Sanaa Hamri) and writer (Kriss Turner) do an excellent job.