Valentines has just recently passed but February hasn’t ended and neither has Black History Month, so what better way to pay tribute than to discuss a film that relates to both? Boomerang, a long forgotten 90s flick starring Eddie Murphy, is the perfect combination of romance and black representation that anyone can enjoy that hasn’t yet already. The movie features a completely black starring cast, and in roles that at the time were not as often slated for people of color. This romantic comedy was a financial success, and though not praised by critics, it’s in dire need of a fresh examination.
Boomerang is about when things eventually come back around, as the title entails. Murphy plays Marcus, a suave and confident marketing executive who has the looks and charm to bed any woman he pleases. Marcus’s issue is that once he’s accomplished his goal, he has no further use for the women he conquers. His match is met with his new business superior Jacqueline when the two get intimately involved, Jacqueline doing to Marcus what he normally does to other women. Marcus is thus forced to reevaluate his life and his treatment of others; hopefully changing his mindset and his behavior for the betterment of himself and those around him.
It is possible that critics were far off base with this one. Though diverse casting doesn’t necessarily a good movie make, this wouldn’t matter here. The casting of black actors in successful roles of society and showing that they endure the same relationship complications as everyone else is something that can’t be overlooked. The movie, in that respect, was ahead of its time. The cast also delivers sufficient performances. Murphy is as he usually is: charismatic, likeable, and hilarious. In Boomerang he’s also able to show off a more romantic persona, and though the laugh factor is still there, he’s also taken seriously as a dramatic actor. Martin Lawrence and Chris Rock play up to their usual comedic effect, and David Alan Grier performs well as Gerard, Marcus’s friend who in one critical moment, keeps him in check. Halle Berry is as fresh as ever in her fourth feature film outing, coming into focus as a crucial plot device at just the right moment. Robin Givens cannot be pushed to the side either. Her casting as Jacqueline was ideal, playing a strong female character to give Marcus a real taste of his own medicine.
Celebrate love, laughter, romance, and black representation with Boomerang, currently streaming on Netflix in select territories.
Looking at it simply as a romantic comedy, it’s anything any rom-com is and more. It is tailored with plenty of comedy, enough drama, just the right amount of sex, and even comes with a decent message. It’s not a perfect film by any stretch, but few films are and this one is much better than it was given credit for when it first came to screens back in the 1990s. Celebrate love, laughter, romance, and black representation with Boomerang, currently streaming on Netflix in select territories. Otherwise, it’s still well worth the online purchase.
