Woo (film)

Woo is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Daisy V.S. Mayer and starring Jada Pinkett Smith in the title role. Tommy Davidson co-stars. Woo was filmed in 1996.

Plot
Woo (Smith) is an extroverted woman living in New York City, and she has a notorious knack for turning men into mush. When Woo's psychic friend Celestrial (Girlina) predicts that the man of her dreams is about to enter her life, Woo doesn't believe it is true. Celestrial, however, is convinced that Woo is destined to meet a tall, debonair Virgo. Woo's cousin Claudette (Paula Jai Parker) and Claudette's boyfriend Lenny (Dave Chappelle) plan to spend the night together but find themselves entertaining Woo instead. Lenny begs his best friend Tim Jackson (Davidson) to take Woo out - even though shy, strait-laced law clerk Tim is the polar opposite of the sassy and brassy Woo. That same night, Lenny and Claudette's night goes wrong when his obsession with chicken drives her to be forced to dress up as a sexy but awkward "chicken ho" (he makes her cluck and walk like a chicken) but she is allergic to feathers.

At first, Woo expresses disinterest in the matchmaking mismatch. But when she's told that Tim is a Virgo, she decides it is fate, jumps at the chance, and immediately heads for Tim's apartment. Meanwhile, Tim, who can't believe his luck, goes next door to his neighbor Darryl (LL Cool J) for tips on romancing women. Darryl supplies Tim with incense, edible body oils, and a tape of sexy songs. When Woo arrives, Tim is completely smitten. Woo, however, discovers that Tim is anything but the sexy, spontaneous stud of her dreams. Finding Tim's pseudo-cool act totally transparent, she humiliates and teases him. They are just about to exit Tim's apartment when Tim is visited by three of his pals - Frankie (Duane Martin), Hop (Darrel Heath), and Romaine (Michael Ralph). The chauvinistic attitude of Tim's friends irritates Woo, so she retaliates and freaks out the trio by acting insane. Finally, the date gets underway. Woo and Tim arrive at a stuffy Italian restaurant, but Woo's behavior gets them thrown out. They go to a dance club, where Tim becomes the victim, punched out by Woo's ex-boyfriend. Woo punches the boyfriend back. Tim becomes a repeated victim of a lot of other misfortunes, but Woo realizes that Tim is the guy she should be with. After Tim gets his car back, it is smashed to pieces. Woo offers to share her car and her life with Tim.

Subplot

 * Tim's friends: Frankie, Hop and Romaine have their own night of fun, gradually going to the same places Woo and Tim go. Unfortunately for them, they unwittingly go to a night club with mostly drag queens, but Hop thinks they are really women and is ultimately horrified once he finds out the truth.

Tagline: ''It's her world.. we're just living in it.''

Cast

 * Jada Pinkett Smith - Darlene "Woo" Barnes
 * Tommy Davidson - Tim Jackson
 * Darrel Heath - Hop
 * Dartanyan Edmonds - Shakim
 * Dave Chappelle - Lenny
 * Duane Martin - Frankie
 * Girlina - Celestrial
 * Lance Slaughter - Lamar
 * LL Cool J - Darryl
 * Michael Ralph - Romaine
 * Paula Jai Parker - Claudette
 * Tiffany Hall - Denise
 * Foxy Brown - Foxy
 * Nicci Gilbert - Crayola
 * Aida Turturro - Tookie
 * Sam Moses - Cabbie
 * Denosh Bennett - Sister at Concert
 * Joanna Bacalso - Stunning Woman
 * Mia Pitts - Voluptuous Woman
 * Catherine Burdon - Alluring Woman
 * Lenny Solomon - Violin Player
 * Michael A. Miranda - Waiter #1
 * Jsu Garcia - Maitre d'
 * Victor Chan - Delivery Biker
 * Lisa Scarola - Latina Woman
 * Philip Akin - Roger Smith
 * Stu 'Large' Riley - Beast
 * David 'Rumble' Morgan - Patron #2
 * Fawn Boardley - Shanay
 * Natalie Venetia Belcon - Hootchie
 * Buddy Lewis - Bartender
 * Nicci Gilbert - Crayola
 * Christian Maelen - Officer #1
 * Desmond Campbell - Officer #2
 * Mike Diamente - Officer #3
 * Kelley Grando - Barry (Bouncer)
 * Orlando Jones - Sticky Fingas
 * Esther Jones - Shorty
 * Tyree Michael Simpson - Big Brother #1
 * Roland Rothchild - Big Brother #2
 * Martin Roach - West Indian Brother
 * Shyla Marlin - Niece
 * Silvana Gatica - Rosa

Reception
The film was met with very negative reviews from audiences and critics. It currently holds a 10% fresh rating at Rotten Tomatoes based on 40 reviews, with an average score of 3.53/10. Derek Armstrong at allmovie, while giving positive reviews to stars Davidson and Smith's performances, stated that the script was "formulaic", and that the film in general was "not much of a vehicle for its impish starlet." Made on a budget of $13 million, the film only grossed $8,064,972 domestically, making it a certifiable box-office flop. It was, however, a success when released on home video (originally VHS, and later DVD).

Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop and R&B music was released on May 5, 1998 through Epic Records. It peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.