Paid In Full MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 1/2 Content: -4

Set in Harlem district of New York during the mid-1980s, this based-on-true-events story explores the rise and fall of a drug dealer. Ace (Wood Harris) works for Mr. Pips (Chi McBride) in his neighborhood dry cleaning store. His friend Mitch (Mehki Phifer) drops by to show off a new car, or Calvin (Kevin Carroll), his sister’s ‘boyfriend,’ flashes his cash roll made from drug sales. A clothes delivery to cocaine distributor LuLu (Esai Morales), introduces Ace to the possibility of the high life. When Calvin is arrested, Ace makes his first drug sale. When Mitch goes to jail, Ace inherits his customers. Soon Ace is making big bucks, but keeping a low profile. He wants to spread his profits around so that everyone does well. But others are greedy for both the money and the power that comes with the drug trade. Ace soon discovers the price paid by his friends and family may be higher than he can afford. Despite the popular actors, PAID IN FULL come across as yet another gritty tale of drug deals in the ‘hood with the moral that drugs are a dead end. However, “those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat them.”

Along with the theme of drug dealing, which often shows drugs and money changing hands, the violence indicates the severe penalty and the cheapness with which life is considered. Several bloody shootings occur along with fist fights and beatings. Several characters are also seen smoking cigarettes which could be marijuana. One scene shows characters watching a pornographic video. Mitch encourages his younger brother to get an education rather than get caught in the drug trade. Along with the n-word racial slur used frequently as a common reference between characters, the dialogue assaults the ears with over 200 obscenities. Avoid PAID IN FULL.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Dimension Films (Miramax Films), 375 Greenwich St., New York, NY 10013