Jason's Lyric MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +2 Content: -3

When Jason (Allen Payne) was young, his father created special times with his son. But his dad changed after losing his leg in Vietnam. Now grown up, Jason has nightmares about his father's death. His brother, Josh (Bokeem Woodbine), released from prison, comes home to live with Jason and his mother. Josh drowns his nightmares in alcohol and petty theft. Jason meets and falls in love with Lyric (Jada Pinkett) who also has a brother with criminal tendencies. Her brother takes in Josh as a follower on a bank job. When Josh is blamed for a botched robbery by Lyric's brother, Jason has to choose between helping his brother or leaving with Lyric. And Josh blames Lyric for taking away his brother. Set in Houston, Texas, that city's sights might make JASON'S LYRIC somewhat more appealing to that area; however, the film will probably be only mildly interesting to those outside the city.

In many films about life in the 'hood, obscenities and ethnic slurs seem to be common, and JASON'S LYRIC is no exception. The offensive dialogue is further supported by an occasional obscene rap song or a free verse blues singer on screen chanting about excrement. Both Josh and his father deal with problems by getting drunk, but their drinking is not condoned. The father creates a special time for his children, but later nullifies those memories with his drunken behavior and bouts of violence. Josh steals a car by breaking the window and throwing the woman driver out. In the botched robbery, he hits a man with his pistol while taking a watch. Violent revenge is also exploited as Jason beats Lyric's brother and later Josh shoots other gang members. Josh threatens Lyric with a gun and takes his own life after he accidently wounds her. When Lyric responds to Jason's advances, they end up having graphic sex. To her credit, Jason's mother throws out food Josh bought with drug money; unfortunately she doesn't throw out Josh. There are too many wrong notes played in JASON'S LYRIC.

Preview Reviewer: Paul R. Bicking
Distributor: Gramercy Pictures, 9247 Alden Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210