Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Singleton's coming-of-age drama has violence, sex, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Baby Boy
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
The BABY BOY of the title, Jody (Tyrese Gibson), is 21 and has two toddlers by two different, demanding moms (Taraji P. Henson and Tamara LaSeon Bass), both of whom want his complete attention and put up with his inexcusable behavior, presumably in exchange for fantastic sex. An early voiceover explains the psychiatric effects of America's systemic racism that produces Black men who think of themselves as babies who are not permitted to reach their full potentials. Jody thinks of himself as a good guy because he brings groceries when he stays over and contributes to the phone bill. Despite the demands of girlfriends and children, he chooses to avoid commitment and responsibility by living with his mother and pursuing other women when the opportunities arise. When a self-confident suitor, Mel (Ving Rhames), moves in with his mom, Jody feels crowded and a bit annoyed with the guy's swagger and financial success. Will Jody finally grow up?
Is It Any Good?
The lead character in Baby Boy is hard to root for. Director Singleton seems to want to underscore both the social ills that prevent young Black men from fulfilling their potential as well as the role such men play in their own paralysis. He doesn't name those forces, but the general absence of an emphasis on education and of responsible, nonviolent, employed, and law-abiding male role models to teach boys how to become men all seem to announce Singleton's frustration at the inevitability of another generation of unemployed, irresponsible, and violent men in the pipeline. Jody and his equally adrift friend Pea take few steps to do anything to improve their situations and the movie views them harshly. That same harsh lens scrutinizes the women who agree to have the babies of irresponsible men, and who complain when they cheat with other women, yet still put up with their irresponsibility, selfishness, and, at times, violence.
It seems Singleton's wonders when the women will refuse to be taken for granted and abused as much as he wonders when the men will get jobs and become independent. Singleton's expresses frustration that young men keep doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome. The movie may have a lot of truth, but it isn't much fun to watch for exactly that reason. The film's end suggests Jody has changed but all he's done is move out of his mother's house to mooch off one of his baby mamas. The mere presence of a really bad guy named Rodney is not enough to make us believe Jody is a good guy by comparison.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what this movie wants us to think about the irresponsibility of young Black men and the Black women who accept that behavior.
What do you think the filmmaker is trying to say about the Black community?
Does Jody learn anything? If, yes, what?
Does the movie's depiction of irresponsible men scold them or does it reinforce and rationalize the validity of the behavior?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 27, 2001
- On DVD or streaming : November 27, 2001
- Cast : Tyrese Gibson , Taraji P. Henson , Ving Rhames
- Director : John Singleton
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Black Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Sony Pictures
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 130 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong sexuality, language, violence and some drug use
- Last updated : August 7, 2024
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