Parents' Guide to A Snowy Day in Oakland

The best part about this uneven drama is its message about the importance of treating mental health as a priority in the Black community. That sentiment is admirable and even encouraging, considering that Black Americans, particularly older Black Americans, are still resistant to therapy (the author of this review is African American and has anecdotal evidence regarding this when discussing therapy with her own parents). So, as the film is targeted toward an older Black audience, A Snowy Day in Oakland is primed to make the impact it wants to have.

But it unfortunately works against itself, putting its message at risk of being diluted or disregarded because of odd storytelling choices and gimmicks. At certain points, it's hard to tell whether something is happening in the present or the past. During one confusing part, it's as if the entire story has been a dream or an imagined story. And the film's stinger-esque ending makes the timeline even more confusing. By insinuating that the whole thing was a made-up scenario -- or hadn't happened yet -- the film's poignancy is lost. But even without the confusing timeline, A Snowy Day in Oakland could alienate some viewers, particularly younger Black people, because of the outdated clichés that are more in line with older films like Barbershop than something new and uniquely transformative. Despite its much-needed message about the importance of therapy and mental health (and Deon Cole's standout, surprisingly gripping performance), A Snowy Day in Oakland is ultimately just a flurry.