Something New (2006)

Kenya (Sanaa Latham) is a high-powered attorney. She all business, so much that she seems to have disregarded having a personal life. She and her successful girlfriends bemoan the lack of African-American men available to them. They believe it is because many of the men can't deal with their positions in life.

Kenya is set up on a blind date. She is not pleased when she sees Brian (Simon Baker), who is white. He's interested in her, but she states she wants to exclusively date African-American men. Later, she attends a party and runs into Brian again. He's a landscaper who has done a great job in the backyard of the party's host. Reluctantly, she hires him to do work at her house. They get to know each other better, and it's not long before they are dating.

Everything's not smooth sailing, however. Kenya clearly needs to get over her hangups about dating outside of her race. It causes tension between her and Brian. Plus, Mark (Blair Underwood), who seems to fit her requirements -- and comfort factor -- for a man enters the scene. Whom will she choose?

Ms. Latham was in Love and Basketball (2000). Mr. Underwood was a regular on "LA Law" (1987-1994). Mr. Baker was on "The Guardian" (2001-2004).

Madea's Family Reunion (2006)

The film is somewhat different than the popular stage play. The granddaughter engaged to a well-to-do man who beat her is still there, but the plot about another granddaughter with a drug problem is gone. Also, the story about the granddaughter trying to salvage her troubled marriage to an ex-con is missing. Added is a granddaughter who is being wooed by a bus driver, and a mouthy foster kid whom Madea is forced to take in.

There is a lot of sermonizing in the movie. In addition to advice Madea gives out to family members, Cicely Tyson and Maya Angelou have scenes where they have speeches about love and respect. The story is heavy-handed, but amusing in spots. A scene where Madea slaps around a bully who's messing with her foster daughter is a crowd pleaser. Blair Underwood proves that he can play a good bad guy, as the odious fiance of one of the granddaughters. Lynn Whitfield also has good scenes as a calculating witch of a mother. Tyler Perry, the star, director, and writer of the film, has three roles as outspoken Madea, outspoken Uncle Joe, and a lawyer who's a nephew of Madea.

Ms. Tyson is a respected actress with numerous appearances on TV and in film, including the excellent made-for-TV- film, "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman". Ms. Angelou is an well-known author and speaker. Mr. Underwood had been a cast member on TV's "L.A. Law", and appeared as Jada Pinkett Smith's love interest in the movie Set It Off.