Sprung MPAA Rating: R Entertainment: +1 Content: -3

Romance is both tender and raunchy in this occasionally outrageous comedy targeted at African-American audiences. Montel (writer-director Rusty Cundieff) and his pal Clyde (Joe Torry) get invited to a posh party although they're not well off financially. Also attending are Brandy (Tisha Campbell) and friend Edina (Paula Jai Parker), a consummate gold-digger who seemingly has a built-in radar to identify the real men from the "dogs." Clyde is a smooth operator who avoids Edina's defenses, however, conveniently dropping someone else's cash machine receipt that shows a healthy balance. He and Edina leave the party and visit his apartment for a frantic sex session. Afterwards she discovers he's a fraud, storms out the door and even gets Clyde arrested and subjected to an embarrassing police line-up. Meanwhile, Montel and Brandy enjoy a more relaxed time together, and fall in love over the next few days. Clyde and Edina, upset about losing their friends' undivided attention, conspire to break up this romance. Their efforts are successful, but Montel and Brandy are so miserable that their friends decide to get them back together. Exaggerated humor about the way men and women regard each other provides a few laughs. But the romantic angles aren't very interesting, so most viewers won't care about the fates of the lead characters.

Montel and Brandy's relationship is fairly respectable, although sex is implied during one passionate encounter. Clyde and Edina are another story, however. Their first encounter features a lengthy sex scene played for laughs; there's no nudity, but it's quite graphic. Two imaginary moments feature fairly graphic sex. Montel is set up with a former female classmate who tries to seduce him and turns out to be a call girl. During the police lineup Clyde and four other men are asked to strip down to their underwear and repeat an obscene phrase. Language is appalling throughout the film, with dozens of crude words and obscenities. Brandy and Edina are shown smoking marijuana. Sprung is the latest in a series of comedies that show young African-Americans in a less-than-favorable light.

Preview Reviewer: Mark Perry
Distributor: Trimark Pictures, 2644 30th St., Santa Monica, CA 90405