White Men Can't Jump: Movie Review

Cast: Jack Harlow, Sinqua Walls, Lance Reddick, Teyana Taylor, Laura Harrier
Director: Calmatic

The contemporary take on 1992's White Men Can't Jump isn't ashamed to wear its emotional baggage on its sleeve. 

Rapper Harlow plays Jeremy, a gym-based hustler whose two busted knees have seemingly signalled the end to his prospective balling career. Walls is Kamal, a former college hotshot whose career has been derailed and who mow works a dead-end delivery job and who is prone to exploding at customers who recognize him and ask for selfies.

As the two meet up they form a bond that's cemented in ambition on the court and in a drive to change their circumstance. 

But both have prospective internal doubts that could derail their plans and hopes - can the two of them overcome their internal demons?

The 2023 version of White Men Can't Jump may feel like it's changed in its 31 year gap but in truth the core mentality of believe in yourself and odd couple vibes within its DNA hasn't radically readjusted.

Yet it's not quite got the spark and vibrancy of the original which crackled with Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson.

Despite director Calmatic's eye for the usual sporting tropes (slowmo shots, a pulsing soundtrack), there's not much which singles out White Men as being radically different from plenty of other similar films of its underdog ilk.

Harlow is laid back, perhaps almost too horizontal, in his delivery as Jeremy, a socks and sandalwearing baller and baiter. He does have an earnestness to his performance though and there's real heart with his female costar. But there's little swagger or memorable moments that cement him in this first time role.

Likewise Walls, his leading man costar has little to play with other than fits of anger and aggression as he deals with internal regrets - while there are soulful touches, again there's little memorable to seal the deal.

More effective is perhaps the vibrancy of the streets expertly choreographed and placed on screen; much is done to in helping the game and the locales to shine - almost like 2K games recent basketball sim NBA 2K Playgrounds.

Ultimately the remake is watchable enough fare that frustratingly has unfulfilled promise and not enough to stand out as its own and thus remains less of the slam dunk you'd hope for after the iconic work of Wesley Snipes / Woody Harrelson combo.

White Men Can't Jump begins streaming on Disney+ under its Star banner on Friday May 19.