Jumping the Broom

A young African-American couple (Paula Patton, Laz Alonso) plan their wedding while grappling with the clash of their respective families: her well-to-do parents (Angela Bassett, Brian Stokes Mitchell) vs. his widowed, working-class mother (Loretta Devine), layabout uncle (Mike Epps) and brassy family friend (Tasha Smith). With a preview trailer that gives away all the funniest lines and has been playing in theaters for months, the movie’s comedy tends to fall flat, but as domestic drama it’s quite strong, thanks to an intelligent script (by Elizabeth Hunter and Arlene Gibbs) and fine acting, especially from Bassett, Mitchell and Devine. Salim Akil’s direction is sprightly but well-modulated (even the normally buffoonish Epps is under control), and cinematographer Anastas N. Michos lends a classy sheen.