Parents' Guide to Love, Brooklyn

Elegant and full of compelling characters, this love story to Brooklyn is as mellow as the R&B tunes on its soundtrack—though that's not always a total compliment. Rachael Holder's feature directorial debut is a real "slice of life" almost to a fault; yes, actual life can move slowly, but in movies, we might like a little pickup. For instance, on several occasions in Love, Brooklyn, two characters have a conversation, and then one goes and tells a third character about the conversation viewers just heard. Yes, that happens in real life, but audiences don't necessarily need to sit through it.

As a creative choice, Holder's tone does reflect what the characters are going through: They're in a rut. They think they're taking action to move their life forward, but they're not. Just like Roger taking in the sounds and sights of Brooklyn on his bicycle, they're meandering through life, not being as intentional as they need to be. Roger is the duke of chillax, which translates into being a bit of a bore. As written by Paul Zimmerman, both Roger and Roger's best friend, Alan (Roy Wood Jr.), a married man who dreams of having an affair, are duds. But the female characters pop. Brilliantly played by Beharie, Casey is a complete original, slipping into silliness without losing any credibility. And Wise is exceptional as a young widow, mature and resolute, who's well aware that she's using physical touch as a coping mechanism—and realizing that dating with a child is far more complicated than she imagined. Their performances feel like discoveries, the unmistakable magic of a female director bringing out the best in two fantastic actresses.