By Shaniece Nicole (@ShanieceNicole)
LeBron James and SpringHill Company are remixing the 1990s comedy “House Party.” This time around, two friends (Jacob Latimore and Tosin Cole) are impecunious, self-appointed entrepreneurs who stumble upon gold when realizing they are tasked with cleaning James’ mansion for the weekend.
While LeBron is away at a retreat, Cole, a part-time promoter who is trying to “make ends meet,” and Latimore, a father who needs $10,000 for his daughter’s education, organize a star-studded “turn-up” for the ages at James’ crib. Fans who adore the nostalgia of the original House Party may wonder if the premise of this movie can top or even rival the popular 1990 blockbuster, because the 2023 remake departs from the original House Party‘s ethos.
Takeaways from the Trailer:
James (Space Jam: A New Legacy; Trainwreck) resumes his pursuit of being “More Than An Athlete.” The basketball legend makes a cameo in the film as a hologram and adds a budding joke about his decision to take his talents to South Beach.
Star-Power:
It will have a star-studded cast. In the newly released trailer, there are appearances from Snoop Dogg, Lena Waithe, Lil Wayne, James’ Laker teammate, Anthony Davis, and the original film stars, “Kid N Play” (Christopher Reid and Christopher Martin). The more stars the better, that’s what new age cinema believes.
The ’90s is the “Golden Age” of Black Cinema:
Every era has its own “thing.” Hip-hop, culture, and dancing were at the essence of black culture in the 1990s. Without the representation provided in the original House Party, the black high school experience as a whole would have been diminished. It’s uncertain though what James’ House Party film stands for or whose experience it is trying to convey.
House Party is only in theaters on January 13, 2023!
