ThiefHott Too much of everything

Tedfoldol everything you have heard about this movie is true.

Beanbioca As Good As It Gets

Baseshment I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.

techboardhr Part semi-serious Gangster movie, part domestic life in the hood, I found it pretty entertaining. Vang and Snoop, with their borderline psychopathic personalities, round out the movie nicely. There are also some great comedic moments. For example one young gangster wanna-be hood rat needs to answer for his disrespect, but shows "heart" so he's told he won't be punched in the face. Instead he immediately gets belt whipped and screams like, well like a kid getting whipped with a belt. Little nuggets like this made me bust out laughing. (The best kind of comedy is funny because it is, not because it's pointed out to you that it's supposed to be funny.) A little more tame than "Menace II Society" it has the same quirky feel with moments that just ring true.

TOMASBBloodhound Baby boy is the story of a young man, who apparently like many others in the inner-city, refuses to accept the duties and responsibilities of adulthood. He doesn't wish to "leave the nest" as his mother suggests he do in an early scene. Jody Summers, played by the charismatic Tyrese Gibson, is a representation for the kind of man Singleton wishes to indict with his film. Jody is twenty years old. He still lives with his mother, he has no steady job, he has children with two different women (that we know of), no car.... the list goes on. We see an intelligence within the young man that at times wants to bubble to the surface, but always seems to get stifled by bad decisions that usually involve women.In the first scene, we see Jody pick up his main-stay girlfriend (Taraji P. Henson) from the abortion clinic. After bringing her home and lovingly tucking her into bed, he's off with her car to visit the mother of another of his children. Jody really gets around with the ladies. But instead of marrying one of them or at least moving in with them, he prefers to live at home with his mother. One day there is great big surprise waiting at home when he arrives. His mother his a new man (Ving Rhames), and the two are crazy about each other. Melvin, a reformed criminal, intends to move in, and that leaves Jody feeling the pressure to move out and start an adult life of his own. Things are also complicated by the release from prison of Snoop Dog. He is a former boyfriend of Jody's woman, and he shows up at her place uninvited and looking for trouble.The film is a series of fights (both verbal and physical), make-up sessions, explicit sex, shootings, and thoughtful insight. The film is cast to perfection, and the pacing is without peer for this type of film. At 130 minutes, the film never outstays its welcome. There is a ton of profanity, and acrimony between the major players. Will Jody decide to grow up and marry the woman he loves? Will he ever see eye to eye with his mother's new boyfriend? Will Snoop Dogg get what's coming to him? Let's just say that things end up happy on most counts. I wish, along with Director John Singleton, that there would be more happy endings in the lives of these kinds of people.These characters, and the world they live in, are as far from anything I've ever experienced in my own lifetime as they could be. It is a credit to John Singleton that he could make me care so much about them in this terrific film. The film made a decent profit at the theater, and will continue to be appreciated for years on the DVD market.8 of 10 stars.The Hound.

kcmack33 This movie was great and will be a classic. It depicted real life in South Central LA and was dedicated to sending a message about growing up and facing responsibilities. Anyone who couldn't see that really did not pay attention to the movie at all. I did, however feel that the acting could have been slightly better, but for the most part, I felt that parts were chosen for the right people to act them out. I hope that a Baby Boy two comes out with a more mature/father-figure Baby Boy. It may be a long shot but stranger movies have been made. After seeing this movie, it has made me want to see more movies with the same type of depiction that Baby Boy had.KcMack

Joseph P. Ulibas Baby Boy (2001) has to be the best film John Singleton has made in his decade and a half directorial career. What separates this movie from others is how real life the situations are in this movie. People like this exist in all different races, ethnicities and social standings. I guess people were turned off by the "gangsta" element. I don't know why because it's just an excellent film that has brilliant acting and writing. Surprise is an understatement, when I saw this movie on video I couldn't believe that this was made by the same director who made Shaft and that schlocky Higher Learning. Too bad Singleton had to sell out again and make Too Fast, Too Furious.The movie follows the life of Jody, an unemployed roustabout who has two kids with two different women. He doesn't do anything and whines to anyone who'll listen to him. Jody takes no responsibility for his actions and blames them on others. One day his life begins to change when his mother get's involved with a world wise former knuckle head (VIng Rhames). Even though his actions and words are too straight forward for a young pup like Jody, he tries to get him to look at life from a reality perspective instead of hanging on his mother's apron strings. Jody likes to run around with his buddy Sweetpea and spend time with his babies momma. One of his girlfriends has a man (Snoop Dogg) who's waiting to get out of the pen and claim what he thinks is his. Can Jody get his life together or will the streets and his own stupidity and lack of accepting adulthood bring him down.Like I said, this is a great movie that was over looked by the viewing public. John Singleton should make more movies like this instead of trying to make a block buster. If you want to see a hard hitting drama that'll entertain as well as educate, this is the film for you. Highest recommendation possible.