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"Waist Deep"

Directed by Vondie Curtis-Hall.
Written by Darin Scott and Vondie Curtis-Hall.
Starring Tyrese Gibson, Meagan Good, Larenz Tate and The Game.
Release Year:  2006
Review Date:  7/11/06

Folks--

Why the hell did I go see "Waist Deep"?  Because I fucking love urban thrillers with rap stars, that's why!  You have to admit, you WANT to change your name to "The Game" too, don't you?  DON'T YOU!!!

In the latest Tyrese Gibson thriller, our man Tyrese stars as Otis (known on the streets as "O2"...trust me on this), who just got a security job after spending time in the joint for the last six years.  On the way home from work one day, he picks up his little boy (H. Hunter Hall) and attempts to drive back to his office to drop off his gun (not sure why Otis's parole officer allowed him to take a job where he has a gun either) when--BAM!--he gets jacked by a thug who works for Meat (The Game), a local gangster that runs shit in the particular part of LA where all of the action takes place.  Oh, only one problem--the jacker takes off with the car and doesn't realize that Otis's kid is still in the back seat, so it's up to Otis to track down the car, his kid, Meat, and redemption.  With the help of his cousin Lucky (Larenz Tate) and a ridiculous hot street seller (Meagan Good), Otis is going after his boy!

Alright, the movie is mostly bad, ridden with clichés and The Game's bad-guy posing.  Tyrese has talent--he is usually a great presence, especially in "Baby Boy"--but he is wasted here as the vigilante-type that has nowhere to turn.  Tate has also been much better very often but as a hopped-up gang member, he doesn't register as well as normal...really, the film's highlight is Good, who gives the film sex appeal even if I'm still not sure if she can act or not.  Doesn't matter, since the camera spends so much time hugging her curves; I can imagine "Waist Deep" being a BIG hit in a packed house with all of the love the camera gives Good over the course of the movie.  There's a little action, a couple of laughs, a couple of bank robberies as Otis and the girl try to score some cash to win back his kid.  But mostly, it's a waste, nothing more so than the ending, which is rife with horseshit and ends even horseshittier, if that's even a word (I'm guessing that it isn't).

The soundtrack hits hard, with "Bad Girl" by Black Buddafly coming throughout the running time.  The look is gritty, even if it is familiar; the film feels tougher than it is, especially when you add in the ridiculous eyes of The Game, which kept me thinking, does his right eye REALLY do that?  But almost everything else about "Waist Deep" is garbage, so at least my low expectations were met.

Rating:  Rental

 

Comments?  Drop me a line at justin@bellviewmovies.com.

 

Bellview Rating System:

"Opening Weekend":  This is the highest rating a movie can receive.  Reserved for movies that exhibit the highest level of acting, plot, character development, setting...or Salma Hayek.  Not necessarily in that order. 

"$X.XX Show":  This price changes each year due to the inflation of movie prices; currently, it is the $9.50 Show.  While not technically perfect, this is a movie that will still entertain you at a very high level.  "Undercover Brother" falls into this category; it's no "Casablanca", but you'll have a great time watching.  The $9.50 Show won't win any Oscars, but you'll be quoting lines from the thing for ages (see "Office Space"). 

"Matinee":  An average movie that merits no more than a $6.50 viewing at your local theater.  Seeing it for less than $9.50 will make you feel a lot better about yourself.  A movie like "Blue Crush" fits this category; you leave the theater saying "That wasn't too bad...man, did you see that Lakers game last night?" 

"Rental":  This rating indicates a movie that you see in the previews and say to your friend, "I'll be sure to miss that one."  Mostly forgettable, you couldn't lose too much by going to Hollywood Video and paying $3 to watch it with your sig other, but you would only do that if the video store was out of copies of "Ronin."  If you can, see this movie for free.  This is what your TV Guide would give "one and a half stars." 

"Hard Vice":  This rating is the bottom of the barrel.  A movie that only six other human beings have witnessed, this is the worst movie I have ever seen.  A Shannon Tweed "thriller," it is so bad as to be funny during almost every one of its 84 minutes, and includes the worst ending ever put into a movie.  Marginally worse than "Cabin Boy", "The Avengers" or "Leonard, Part 6", this rating means that you should avoid this movie at all costs, or no costs, EVEN IF YOU CAN SEE IT FOR FREE!  (Warning:  strong profanity will be used in all reviews of "Hard Vice"-rated movies.)