Reel Critics

Peggy Rogers

When a basketball player’s ego gets him kicked off the team he posses

as a woman to get back into the game. “Juwanna Mann� takes its premise

from “Some Like It Hot� and “Tootsie,� recycling the gender bender

concept this time to be played out in the arena of women’s basketball.

As the story begins Jamal Jeffries (Miguel A. Nunez Jr.) is at the top

of his game. He is talented, rich and famous along with being obnoxious,

adulterous and oblivious to the concept of being a team player. Jamal

insults his fans by using a self-inking stamp to sign autographs,

disrespects his wife by fooling around with other women and hogs the ball

from his team mates while on the court. Jamal refuses to be part of any

team on or off the court.

When Jamal’s penalties and fines for fouls and fighting exceed his

ability for scoring points his coach kicks him off the team. Jamal’s

reaction is to address the crowd like a male stripper in a Chippendale

night club, bringing his career and personal life to a grinding halt.

The remainder of the film is spent watching Jamal as Juwanna dealing

with being a man in woman’s clothes.

The premise and character of Jamal/Juwanna works as well as it does

given Nunez Jr.’s ability to pass for a women as well as Dustin Hoffman

did in “Tootsie.� The actor works hard to create a likable character in

Juwanna, offsetting the revolting attitude and actions of Jamal seen in

the opening scenes. “Juwanna Mann� is similar to a cartoon in that so

much is implausible and unexplainable, such as Juwanna evading a health

exam to qualify for the team simply by slipping out the door. The story

is too weak to engage adults and too adult oriented for younger

teenagers. However, watching the film from the point of view that it’s

silly, implausible and campy injects a little bit more pleasure into the

experience for viewers. Better yet, save some money and wait for “Juwanna

Mann� to arrive in video stores very soon.

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and documentaries.