'Sprung' aims below belt for fun

By Julia Shih
Daily Arts Writer

"Sprung," the new romantic comedy from director Rusty Cundieff ("Tales From the Hood"), is a light-hearted, tongue-in-cheek sex romp that is slightly more than amusing, but far shy of hilarious.

REVIEW
	Sprung 2 stars At Briarwood and Showcase

Without the sexual connotations, "sprung" is defined as when someone is head-over-heels in love, a person (usually the man) is completely whipped, and the "game" is over. The movie, "Sprung" portrays what happens when people are sprung, as the game of love continues to be played around them.

The film stars Tisha Campbell ("Martin") as Brandy, an aspiring attorney who is looking for love in all the wrong places. Her best friend, Adina (Paula Jai Parker) is a golddigging hoochie who tries to help Brandy hook up, while also getting a little action for herself.

At a sorority alumni bash, the two girls meet Clyde (Joe Torry) and Montel (Rusty Cundieff), who stumbled onto the party scene hoping to impress women with their cool 'tudes and fresh threads - but look more like ridiculous party favors.

Right off the bat, Clyde and Adina's antics are matched. Adina is desperately looking for a man with a fat wallet, while Clyde, the epitome of a "player," is willing to tell any lie, no matter how ludicrious, to get a girl in bed.

As Clyde seduces Adina with a borrowed Porsche and fake bank-account statements, Brandy and the handsome and sensitive Montel are left to cheesily fall in love with each other.

"Sprung" is so cliched and predictable that to pay attention to the plot would be like asking to be bored to tears. It is obvious that Brandy and Montel are perfect for each other, and that things will happen to put the relationship on the rocks before love eventually overcomes all. This weak storyline is definitely nothing to get excited about.

But "Sprung" is clearly a film that doesn't take itself too seriously - the most entertaining aspect of the movie is watching the little gimmicks that Cundieff uses to spoof the game of love.

From throbbing primal drumbeats during a wild sex scene, to showing what horrifying and sometimes naughty thoughts the characters are thinking, the movie possesses a definite "silly" factor.

For example, when Clyde and Adina, out of jealousy, scheme for a way to break up Montel and Brandy, they plant horrifying images of married life in the minds of the couple, which the viewer is privileged to see.

Another comical scene occurs at the party where everyone first met. Adina scans the crowd of "dogs" with her intuitive expertise, which is similar to a Terminator-like scanner. Not only does it estimate the value of the men's apparel (she easily spots out fake Versace sunglasses and $10 Rolexes), but it can also reveal the nature of the man. In a very funny sequence, she scans a group of men, labeling a few as "Buckwheat," "Pimp" and "Gay."

The two main couples of Brandy and Montel, and Clyde and Adina are in complete contrast of each other. Brandy and Montel are into more than just sex, while Clyde and Adina just want to be able to play the game and come out on top. Clyde and Adina are like the jesters of the movie, providing comic relief at every chance they get.

"Sprung" illustrates good directing, solid acting all around and an overall fresh sense of humor. But sporadically funny as "Sprung" is, it is too mediocre and banal to stand out of the overwhelmed romantic-comedy crowd.

Joe Torry experiences some serious travel discomforts in 'Sprung.'

06-04-97