Good movie for Netflix it is worthy of giving it a watch,funny moments, sweet moments.
28 Reviews
Romantic comedy
quisha-0119516 June 2020
Sweet Execution on a Classically Contrived Romance Premise
vivat_r11 February 2020
Perfect for fans of the Hallmark/Lifetime Romance genre. While #ChristmasRomance is the currently most prolific stereotype, #FakeEngagement is also a reliable chestnut that comes around regularly. So, nope, nothing whatsoever realistic about the set-up. But, I didn't come to this expecting otherwise.
My fear is always that the writing and acting are terrible. THIS delivered the low-stakes "awww, they so cute" happy that I was looking for, well above expectations. The writing and acting were just fine (and I WILL bail if those are excruciating). The family felt legit cohesive and there were some reaction moments that were truly LOL. Recommend if you just want to feel good for 90-120 minutes.
My fear is always that the writing and acting are terrible. THIS delivered the low-stakes "awww, they so cute" happy that I was looking for, well above expectations. The writing and acting were just fine (and I WILL bail if those are excruciating). The family felt legit cohesive and there were some reaction moments that were truly LOL. Recommend if you just want to feel good for 90-120 minutes.
It was good. Had some things I didn't like.
GarnetVersus78 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I turned this on gearing myself up for terrible acting and unfunny jokes. But, I was actually wrong. It made me laugh which is crazy hard to do from a comedy movie, and I wasn't impressed with the acting but it wasn't terrible. Now, what I was upset about, the ending. The ending was so confusing and we don't even know what happened with Tyrell and if he ever got the money back from Fake Mtumbe. There are tons of plot holes and filled with my ultimate movie and book pet peeve, introducing conflict without resolution. So summary, it was funny and I liked it. I didn't feel chemistry between the two characters and it seemed like they were only "in love" because the movie told as they were and not because the viewers felt it.
100% predictable, but still cute
thecanadian-2331726 July 2021
This is one of those movies where you'll read the synopsis and know exactly how it ends - it's basically a Hallmark movie. But I still thought it was really cute. I'm a big fan of Amber Steven West and she was really likable in the movie. There were some fun situations with her fake fiancé as well that got some good chuckles from me. Is it a movie I'll ever watch again? Probably not, but I enjoyed watching it the one time.
surprisingly good, nice twist on the "pretend to be couple" trope.
buckythewonderhorse11 January 2023
The "pretend to be a couple and then actually fall in love" trope has been done many times. But Love Jacked manages to inject some different elements, and made for an enjoyable movie.
I must warn, the first 15 minutes or so were confusing, I think because it was not clear which man was destined to become the main male character. But eventually we get to the setup: Maya has dumped her African fiance but has told her family she is still engaged, while Malcolm is on the run from a bad guy and needs to hide. Solution: Malcolm pretends to be the African fiance and stays with her family. So in with the "pretend to be a couple" movie we've got the "pretend to be a foreigner when you're not" and "on the run from someone who wants to kill you" movies.
And somehow, it works. The plot delivers plenty of laughs, a bit of suspense, and has a few twists on the way to its mostly predictable happy ending.
I must warn, the first 15 minutes or so were confusing, I think because it was not clear which man was destined to become the main male character. But eventually we get to the setup: Maya has dumped her African fiance but has told her family she is still engaged, while Malcolm is on the run from a bad guy and needs to hide. Solution: Malcolm pretends to be the African fiance and stays with her family. So in with the "pretend to be a couple" movie we've got the "pretend to be a foreigner when you're not" and "on the run from someone who wants to kill you" movies.
And somehow, it works. The plot delivers plenty of laughs, a bit of suspense, and has a few twists on the way to its mostly predictable happy ending.
Umm Africa is not one country...
sevdekaldiroglu8 February 2020
In addition to the horribly lazy writing, plot holes and the cringeworthy acting, one of the most annoying aspects of this movie is that the screenwriters don't seem to know (or care) that Africa is a huge continent with many different countries and cultures. From the beginning, everyone refers to the country the main character is traveling to as "Africa" and talk about the cliche stereotypes around "Africans" without specificity.
This movie is simply an exploitation of people's fantasy of "the exotic Africa" with very little nuance or traces of decent acting. The sad thing is it will work for many people since it simply confirms stereotypes in a very conveniently ignorant manner.
This movie is simply an exploitation of people's fantasy of "the exotic Africa" with very little nuance or traces of decent acting. The sad thing is it will work for many people since it simply confirms stereotypes in a very conveniently ignorant manner.
Plot holes, ignorant stereotypes and t
WhateverIWant2916 April 2020
Saddens me to write this as I love to see and support black people on screen, we know it's not always been a thing. However, the story makes no sense, its too far from reality and not executed in a way good enough to suspend disbelief. Disappointing film, can't recommend wasting your life watching it. Plot holes, embarrassing errors and ignorance littered throughout as if the information is not readily available. There was a great opportunity for a bit of representation, albeit with humour, but it felt like a film directed and written by a lazy author with little scrambled knowledge of 'Africa', that mainly consisted of what they saw on "Coming to America". It's irritating that in 2020 films still continue to perpetuate tired, old ignorant tropes about African people and actually present it as humor. The film talks of Africa as if it's a monolith, there are approx 54 very different countries with nearly 2000 languages, different dialects and distinct accents depending on geographic region. With globalisation, the internet and the large amount of first and second gen African presence in the west, it wouldn't have been hard to do a little research or find just a couple of people to help. This really overshadows much of the film because it's entwined in the main storyline. It's a shame because the main actors are not terrible but the material they had to work with is poor. Other than the embarrassingly ignorant cultural references and jokes throughout, the storyline is outlandish, fragmented and far fetched. I hope to see the main actors shine in other films, they had nice onscreen chemistry and I've seen most perform very well in other shows/films. I'm definitely here for representation, but please do it properly. The actors and we the audience deserve better.
Cringe worthy & Ignorant!
lollygirl-583019 February 2020
Here we go again with the ignorant stereotypes! Movies should educate and correct shabby narratives not enhance them!
Africa is a CONTINENT!!!!!!!! You don't hear "North America" or "South America" or "Europe" or "Asia" or "Australia", why not be specific?! In fact, even after they tried being specific by mentioning two countries, "Africa" still found its way out of their lips till the very end! Oh my! The Ignorance is indeed skin deep!
On another note, why in the name of all that's good was the main male character made to repeat the same attire? As though as an African, the closet space is lacking outfits? It was irritable to see!
Pssst..... This movie truly showed that there was no heart in it! It's as if the producers were forced to put something out! And sadly, this movie is another kind that nurtures the damning stereotypes many already resonate with! Smh.
Well, if anything, it lived up to its name... jacked!
Africa is a CONTINENT!!!!!!!! You don't hear "North America" or "South America" or "Europe" or "Asia" or "Australia", why not be specific?! In fact, even after they tried being specific by mentioning two countries, "Africa" still found its way out of their lips till the very end! Oh my! The Ignorance is indeed skin deep!
On another note, why in the name of all that's good was the main male character made to repeat the same attire? As though as an African, the closet space is lacking outfits? It was irritable to see!
Pssst..... This movie truly showed that there was no heart in it! It's as if the producers were forced to put something out! And sadly, this movie is another kind that nurtures the damning stereotypes many already resonate with! Smh.
Well, if anything, it lived up to its name... jacked!
ACTUALLY MADE ME LAUGHED
yonghanntan7 May 2020
Really?... that's not how my people behave!!!
khris_sik12 October 2020
Despite the movie having it's funny moments here and there I absolutely don't agree with the perception it has on the behaviour and being of Africans!!!
I mean why does Malcolm have to talk like that and dress like that!!! It gives people a wrong and stereotypical perception of Africans.
Making it seem like we're primitive in some nature... especially with that accent and weird way Malcolm was impersonating Mtumbi!!!
Africans can speak proper English and do wear normal western clothes... or different clothes they feel like wearing.
What y'all need to do is stop ranting over Emily in Paris and rant over this failed attempt at a culturally diverse romantic comedy.
Poor romantic comedy
nicorip2212 October 2020
Predictable and a waste
moviereviewer997 February 2020
Know and use the right facts and information
pellydolly4 March 2021
Africa is a continent of 55 countries, islands and disputed territories. This information is readily available online, the writer, producer, director and whoever could have researched this. Which country in Africa did Maya visit-just 1 country so why not mention the name of that particular country instead of mentioning Africa throughout. The name of the so called country should have been used. Advice don't portray and put information out that you don't know. Do your homework. This is a really bad movie filled with wrong and inappropriate information
Very Funny!
m_newmanxo7 December 2018
Bad romance
maeveoneill-733792 March 2022
Parts are cringy. Parts are frustrating. It's not really that great at all. Very slow moving with very little romance and absolutely no comedy... half expect the actors to get caught accidentally looking into the camera it was so bad.
Unconvincing plot with a psychotic lead character.
spyanotherway28 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
So....this crazy spoiled brat of a person convinces her family to put on a lavish wedding and pay for a fake funeral all because she doesn't want her father to be right.... The only funny part of the film is where she admitted it at the end and everyone acts as if she isn't bonkers, in real life she would be put on medication for being a compulsive liar and shunned for lying to her family and wasting thousands of bucks on a fake wedding and funeral! Romantic comedies have some ridiculous plots but this one really takes it a step further.....
What went wrong here?
SafariPlum10 September 2022
This movie has the ingredients for a very funny romantic comedy. Keith David playing Ed Johnson, Mike Epps playing the wacky Afrophile Uncle Rufus and Amber Stevens West playing the fed up daughter Maya. This great cast together with this storyline could and should make something really fantastic, funny and memorable. So what went wrong?
It was so difficult to force myself to reach the end so I could give it an honest review. A shame really. I'm not sure whether to blame the budget or the directing for this wipeout, but plenty of low budget films can and have made deep impacts.
I'm struggling to understand the high ratings from lots of viewers. And I'm a fan of romance. Maybe I am the problem here. I will try to watch it again when I'm in a different state of mind to see if it is better next time. I will edit my review if my view point changes.
It was so difficult to force myself to reach the end so I could give it an honest review. A shame really. I'm not sure whether to blame the budget or the directing for this wipeout, but plenty of low budget films can and have made deep impacts.
I'm struggling to understand the high ratings from lots of viewers. And I'm a fan of romance. Maybe I am the problem here. I will try to watch it again when I'm in a different state of mind to see if it is better next time. I will edit my review if my view point changes.
Romantic comedy that isn't funny or romantic
jannikpeveling28 December 2021
It is a really bad sign when a romantic comedy isn't funny or romantic at all and you feel rather embarassed than amused or emotional. Maybe they just had to assign it to a genre so they can release it. I had low expectation and just wanted to watch a simple rom-com. But this one was worse even with no expectations.
A UNIQUE TWIST ON A TYPICAL HOLLYWOOD LOVE TALE
plasmapilot8 August 2021
This engaging love story took me by surprise! I found the actors to be dynamic and their chemistry lent cohesion to this production. The musical score and occasional chuckles brought levity and balance to the film. I really enjoyed this refreshing approach to the genre and actually applauded at the conclusion! Snuggle up and relax with this gem.
Toronto posing as California, really?!?
rezza613 April 2021
Like any other silly movie about love, it is OK but showing Toronto and saying it is California is offensive to the intelligence of anyone and mine especially, as I am Californian. Movies are not about reality but once you create a world, you need to do the best to pretend it is real, otherwise it doesn't work. Certain things are just unacceptable and Toronto pretending to be California is one. Come on, the crew went to South Africa but couldn't come to California to do it right? The color and light are pathetic!
Great family movie!
csn-7814927 October 2018
What a great movie! So much fun, great South African scenery, fabulous soundtrack. Shamier does such a great job and is so funny. Amber also plays such a great role. Fun for the whole family. A few twists along the way make for just a great funny movie experience!
Classic!!
melora-6195324 February 2020
extremely cute
Luvya01172 March 2020
Classic Romance
ghgaskins20 January 2021
This is a textbook romance movie from every aspect. Very funny and well acted. If you don't like this movie, you're probably old with no sense of humor. I read some reviews that state its unrealistic, but so what, all romance even real is a fantasy. If this wasn't on Netflix it would show on Hallmark Channel, but it has better actors that are more convincing in their roles. Both lead characters demonstrate romantic chemistry carrying the highs and lows like its really happening. A fun movie and great cast. It's all good.
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