Opening

73% Fast & Furious 6 May 24
21% The Hangover Part III May 23
63% Epic May 24
97% Before Midnight May 24
88% We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks May 24
83% Fill the Void May 24
17% A Green Story May 24
—— Alyce Kills May 24

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Coming Soon

—— After Earth May 31
—— Now You See Me May 31
100% The Kings of Summer May 31
89% The East May 31

Brown Sugar (2002)

tomatometer

66

Average Rating: 6.2/10
Reviews Counted: 85
Fresh: 56 | Rotten: 29

Though predictable and possibly too sweet, Brown Sugar is charming, well-acted, and smarter than typical rom-com fare.

73

Average Rating: 6.5/10
Critic Reviews: 30
Fresh: 22 | Rotten: 8

Though predictable and possibly too sweet, Brown Sugar is charming, well-acted, and smarter than typical rom-com fare.

audience

87

liked it
Average Rating: 3.8/5
User Ratings: 55,201

My Rating

Movie Info

A woman wonders if it's just friendship or real love she feels when a close male friend announces he's tying the knot in this romantic comedy. Dre (Taye Diggs) and Sidney (Sanaa Lathan) became best friends when they were ten years old -- the same time that both first became aware of the first rumblings of the Hip Hop revolution in New York City. Today, Dre runs a successful record label, and Sidney is a respected music journalist; both have managed to turn their love for the music into careers,

PG-13,

Drama, Romance, Comedy

Michael Elliott, Rick Famuyiwa

Feb 11, 2003

$27.2M

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All Critics (97) | Top Critics (33) | Fresh (56) | Rotten (29) | DVD (15)

It's predictable, but it jumps through the expected hoops with style and even some depth.

October 26, 2002 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic IconTop Critic

A lot more dimensional and complex than its sunny disposition would lead you to believe.

October 25, 2002 Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee
Sacramento Bee
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You don't have to know about music to appreciate the film's easygoing blend of comedy and romance.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Washington Post
Washington Post
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Makes the sweet case that sincerity strikes the biggest romantic sparks.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Toronto Star
Toronto Star
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Lathan and Diggs make an immensely likable couple, and the supporting cast strikes all the right notes.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: Seattle Times
Seattle Times
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Takes every convention of the romantic comedy genre and turns it on its ear.

October 11, 2002 Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle
Top Critic IconTop Critic

The spirit of the old school echoes strongly throughout the film and parallels the purity of the passions and personalities of the paramours.

December 30, 2008 Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com
TheMovieReport.com

Brown Sugar manages to take hip-hop's well-established history and make it digestible for audiences not necessarily tied directly into the core of that culture.

July 2, 2008 Full Review Source: IGN Movies
IGN Movies

Fine performances from Diggs and Lathan give life to an otherwise rehashed love story, but musician Mos Def steals the show.

May 20, 2003
Palo Alto Weekly

All in all, Brown Sugar is a satisfying well-made romantic comedy that's both charming and well acted. It will guarantee to have you leaving the theater with a smile on your face.

December 18, 2002 Full Review Source: Katrillion.com
Katrillion.com

The plot is romantic comedy boilerplate from start to finish.

December 8, 2002 Full Review Source: Film Threat
Film Threat

Hip-hop rarely comes alive as its own fire-breathing entity in this picture.

November 20, 2002
Creative Loafing

True to its title, this hip-hop When Harry Met Sally is plenty sweet, but is that what we really want from a film set in the world of rap music?

November 19, 2002 Full Review Source: eye WEEKLY
eye WEEKLY

Audience Reviews for Brown Sugar

Somehow I had never seen this movie before last night and I couldn't believed that I hadn't. It's a very good romantic comedy/drama that will remind you a little of When Harry Met Sally. There is even a scene where Taye Diggs character (Dre) spouts off on the different types of women and which ones are just to date and which ones are to marry, that scene echoes Billy Crystal's similar scene in Harry met Sally. Anyway this film main storyline has childhood friends Dre and Sidney (the gorgeous Sanaa Lathan) flirting around the issue of whether to just remain friends or become something closer. The point becomes moot when Dre ends up marrying hot to trot Reese (played by Nicole Ari Parker, who for once plays the bad girl instead of the usual saint). But Dre and Sidney still are such close friends that he spends more time with her than his own wife which leads to some friction. This being a romantic comedy, you know things will eventually turn out for the better, but getting there is what makes this movie works. A talented cast works wonders including Diggs and Lathan but also Queen Latifah as Sidney's cousin; Mos Def as a singer trying to break into the business, who is helped by Dre; and Parker. But the standout is Sanaa Lathan as Sidney. She manages to make her character seem very real, showing every emotion possible for happiness to sadness and all in between. When she is onscreen, the camera definitely loves her and so will audiences. Did I mention she was drop dead gorgeous. There are only a handful of women or men for that matter that can hold your attention with their acting ability and looks at the same time. I would put Ms Lathan up there with the legendary Elizabeth Taylor in her prime. So I highly recommend this movie, great for couples, great for romance lovers, great for film lovers in general.
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Dre: It's when you talk like that, that's what makes me think that you're jealous.
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: What?
Dre: Yes. Jealous!
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: [throws a cookie on the table] No wonder you two are married, you're both crazy! Look here, contrary to what you and your wife may think, I don't spend my nights thinkin' about you, okay?
Dre: Shh! Lower the voice.
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: I got a man who's fine, intelligent, successful, and gives it to me on a very, very regular basis and the s**t is the bomb!
Dre: So! I don't care what -
Sidney 'Syd' Shaw: Dre I need you to be happy for me. I need you to be there for me, just like you asked of me. So - so I can have tea and eat cucumber sandwiches with the crust cut off!
July 19, 2009
poohtiger
monty hawes

Super Reviewer

A great movie!
April 12, 2007
iLeo
Leo L

Super Reviewer

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