Sunset Park (1996, Rated R, 99 minutes) available from Columbia/TriStar Home Entertainment

Stars: Rhea Perlman, Fredro Starr, Terrence Howard, Carol Kane, Camille Saviola, De’Aundre Bonds, James Harris, Guy Torry, Malinda Williams, Hattie Winston, and Vincent Pastore

Plot: A white woman (Perlman) who knows next-to-nothing about basketball agrees to take over the coaching duties for the all-black Sunset Park High School basketball team.

Features: Presented only in Full Screen, and Theatrical Trailers.

Final Word: Performances aside, the film doesn’t offer much of anything. That being said the film does feature some truly exciting game sequences and as previously mentioned-solid work from the ensemble cast as a whole. Perlman and Starr are particularly well matched and share a great rapport, and Howard whose stock rose considerably after his movie-stealing performance in The Best Man (1999) hints at the greatness that he’s capable of.

Rating: 2.5 briefs (out of 5)

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