Black Coffee
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Black Coffee
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Black Coffee is a romantic comedy about dating and entrepreneurial ventures among African-American professionals and the issues that come with them. It has mild profanity ("ass" and multiple variations of the word) and some sexual suggestiveness but mostly focuses on what makes romantic relationships good or bad, workable or epic failures, as well as what it means to be a good man or woman as a professional and a lover. There are heavy themes about divorce, heartbreak, cheating, controlling behaviors, and the healing that takes place around these events, as well as a running narrative about trying to be successful and African-American. There's not much here for kids and nothing terribly interesting for teens, either.
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What's the Story?
Robert (Darrin Dewitt Henson) has just been fired from his job, a company once owned by his own father, and, to top off the bad news, conniving girlfriend Mita (Erica Hubbard) leaves him the same day because he hasn't put a ring on it yet. As he struggles to figure out his next steps, he keeps at his work, where he meets the intriguing Morgan (Gabrielle Dennis), who helps him quickly realize that good things can come out of awfully bad circumstances.
Is It Any Good?
BLACK COFFEE offers some good ideas to think about but doesn't have a particularly compelling execution. It examines ideas about ambition in the African-American community and the importance of finding a good soul mate and a partner who respects you, but overall, it's a middling film that doesn't make a big statement about either. There are some nice performances, but the heavy focus on adult themes, the innuendo, and the discussions of cheating and relationships are too grown-up for kids and not likely to be of interest to teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about relationship values in the film. What did the movie seem to be saying about what values matter in romantic relationships?
Why do you think entrepreneurial ventures were so important to many of the characters in the film?
What messages did the film send about soul mates? Do you agree? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 8, 2014
- Cast: Erica Hubbard, Darrin Dewitt Henson, Gabrielle Dennis
- Director: Mark Harris
- Studio: Image Entertainment
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 81 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- Last updated: February 26, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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Barbershop
Engaging ensemble comedy has some salty language.
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Down to Earth
Likeable Chris Rock in a comedy about race.
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Good Burger
Good-natured '90s comedy loaded with pratfalls, silliness.
For kids who love romance
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