It’s not often that two leading ladies as talented as Angela Bassett and Loretta Devine get to work together again, but that’s precisely what’s happened with “Jumping the Broom.” The duo first appeared on screen as good friends in 1995’s underrated drama “Waiting to Exhale.” Oh, how times of changed. Their characters in “Broom” are anything but cordial.
“Broom” stars Paula Patton and Laz Alonso as a quickly engaged couple from different economic backgrounds whose true love . Because Alonso’s character is embarrassed about his needy mother (Devine) he waits to introduce her to her seemingly well-off parents (Bassett and Brian Stokes Mitchell) until the weekend of their wedding on Martha’s Vineyard. A culture clash ensues with hurt feelings all around and a conflict between Devine and Bassett’s characters at the center of it. The film also features a number of nice turns from a packed ensemble including Mike Epps as an unexpectedly wise Uncle, Romeo as an 18-year-old with a thing for older ladies and Tasha Smith as the object of his affections.
HitFix spoke to all the actors last month and they rejoiced in remembering how much fun they had shooting on a gorgeous estate in Nova Scotia standing in for Martha’s Vineyard. You can check out their memories of the film and some clips embedded in this post.
“Jumping the Broom” opens nationwide today.