Aaron Loves Angela (1975)

Aaron Loves Angela: Directed by Gordon Parks Jr.. With Moses Gunn, Kevin Hooks, Irene Cara, Robert Hooks. In New York City, a young black boy and Puerto Rican girl fall in love despite objections from each other’s families.

“This film is a disaster.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe big plus here is Kevin Hooks, who plays high school basketball player Morris Thorpe in one of the greatest shows ever, The White Shadow. He even plays school basketball here!u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eHowever, this is an extremely lightweight film where nothing much ever goes on. There are many scenes for instance of the young couple just walking and playing around, all that sort of thing, whether they are alone or with Aaronu0026#39;s friend and her friend, who seem to end up as a couple themselves later on, but thatu0026#39;s simply not explained at all. But plenty of other things arenu0026#39;t explained either.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eFor instance, the local drug dealer/pimp (u0026quot;Bou0026quot;), in some scenes heu0026#39;s pushing Aaron against a wall in his building being tough (why?), and in another heu0026#39;s in Aaronu0026#39;s dadu0026#39;s coffee shop giving the dad a very hard time and making fun of him (why?). Then in other scenes, Bo saves Aaron from Puerto Rican toughs, offers to take his hooker around the world when he doesnu0026#39;t have to, and gives Aaron a suitcase full of money (as Bo is dying). Whatu0026#39;s his story? Who knows? There is a supposed plot line in the film where there is trouble between the blacks and Puerto Ricans because Aaron (black) is dating Angela (Puerto Rican, or u0026quot;Latinau0026quot; for todayu0026#39;s PC audience). A few times early on, when Aaron talks to his buddy about liking Angela, thereu0026#39;s some talk about how sheu0026#39;s u0026quot;one of them.u0026quot; But after a scene where Aaron takes Angela home (not to her door, just the street outside a little down the block she insists, for his safety), and he gets chased and a slight beatdown from some Puerto Ricans (u0026quot;we donu0026#39;t want outsiders with our girlsu0026quot;), there is then nothing more between any conflict between the blacks and Puerto Ricans. As a matter of fact, Aaron even waits for Angela in her doorway with no problem and no fear from any Puerto Ricans. The whole conflict is completely forgotten about.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAaron and Angela also hide their relationship from their parents. Why? We see Aaronu0026#39;s father a bunch of times, and never once does he mention that he hates Puerto Ricans, or even against Aaron having any girlfriend. Thereu0026#39;s never a single reason shown why Aaron should hide Angela from his father. Same thing for Angela and her mother, who we never even see. So that whole thing is unexplained.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eBut all that is pretty much how this mess of a movie goes. Despite all this, there are a few good points of curiosity, mainly cameos from Walt Frazier and Jose Feliciano. Frazier is very unnatural and speaks as if he is reading off cue cards, but seeing him in full 1975 u0026quot;rich basketball playeru0026quot; regalia complete with cheesy fur and an old Rolls Royce (where he found a parking spot right outside the Gardenu0026#39;s stage door) is a blast. Feliciano sings at a club, and he also does a number of songs for the movie, which havenu0026#39;t really lasted over time that well but are pretty good nonetheless.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe actual locations of filming are great to see if you are into gritty 1970u0026#39;s New York City films. NYC was a mess in the 70u0026#39;s and Harlem especially wasnu0026#39;t pretty. There are some good character actors you may recognize in the film. And as far as Irene Cara goes, sheu0026#39;s a little less than OK, a little pretty, but she doesnu0026#39;t deliver a knockout punch on screen or anything. Sheu0026#39;s obviously not as good on screen as the actor playing Aaron. Her friend who you sometimes see may have been a better choice for the role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film picks up just a little bit in the last 15 minutes, as the drug dealers are searching for their suitcase full of cash. Thereu0026#39;s a great scene where they run down Bou0026#39;s buddy, a great piece of stuntwork done before stupid computer effects came long. Itu0026#39;s a great shot that adds the the grittiness even more. The u0026quot;liveryu0026quot; plates on the drug dealeru0026#39;s limo is a funny thing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOne funny thing is Aaronu0026#39;s buddy telling the drug dealers where Aaron is at that moment, after they beat it out of him. Aaron was at Grantu0026#39;s Tomb waiting for Angela. Grantu0026#39;s Tomb? Even though it was the truth, how fake did that sound? And the drug dealers bought it immediately? If it was that easy, why didnu0026#39;t Aaronu0026#39;s buddy just lie, and say u0026quot;The Empire State Buildingu0026quot; or u0026quot;The 4-5-6 subway station at 125th and Lexington?u0026quot; Seeing Aaronu0026#39;s good buddy reveal where Aaron was, was a letdown.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe end of the film seems to be a cop-out, what exactly happens? Did they run off? Do they go home? Angela warns Aaron that unless he returns the drug dealeru0026#39;s money, theyu0026#39;ll be chased down forever all over the world until they are finally found. So what good did throwing the money into the crowd do? Are the drug dealers going to forget about it then, and not search for Aaron? Like everything else in this film, it makes no sense.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe romance, you never get the feeling that their feelings for each other are simmering. Part of it is Carau0026#39;s wooden acting, but it really never materializes into anything, especially a u0026quot;Romeo and Julietu0026quot; thing, because no one really cares if they are together or not. Another unexplained thing (of so, so many) is how in one scene, Aaron and Angela are in the abandoned building, scared from hearing gunshots, and they run from the building together after Bo, dying, gives Aaron the suitcase of money. But then, right afterwards, Angela isnu0026#39;t taking Aaronu0026#39;s phone calls anymore. Why?? Unbelievable.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eSo really, there may be a few reasons to watch this film out of curiosity, but this movie is a huge mess.”