Cheryl Dunye - Filmography: Baby's Daddy

Talk about high concept: the Player-like pitch on My Baby's Daddy is this movie is Three Men and a Baby meets Boyz N the Hood.

Three bachelor buddies living the single high life are brought down to earth when their girlfriends get pregnant the same night and have babies the same day – so you don't forget you're watching a movie – and they are forced into a world of diapers, formula and real-world responsibilities.

The result is an uneasy mix of crude slapstick and warm-and-fuzzy life lessons with the first half of flatulence jokes and party-hearty pratfalls seguing into the second half of baby-love insights and boy-to-man growth. The three men are Lonnie (Eddie Griffin), G (Anthony Anderson) and Dominic (Michael Imperioli). Lonnie is a nerdy whiz-kid, G is a loveable goof, and Dominic is an aspiring hip hop impresario, but all three are just clueless fun-seekers.

The mother of Lonnie's child is Rolanda (Paula Jai Parker) a Li'l Kim-wannabe party-girl. From the way she takes shots of bourbon during delivery and fills the baby's bottle with cola, you get the idea that motherhood is low on her list of priorities. G's girlfriend XiXi (Bai Ling) wants a family, but her family hates G. And G doesn't want to settle down and give up on his dream of being a boxer. Dominic, meanwhile, is a father as a result of a one-night fling with Nia (Joanna Bacalso), who discovers she's a lesbian.

Adding to the fun are side players such as Method Man as G's no-good cousin No Good and John Amos as Uncle Virgil, the old-timer who finally beats (verbally) some sense into the boys.

All of this comes from a screenplay co-written by Mr. Griffin and Damon "Coke" Daniels. There are lots of cheap, easy gags and some uncomfortably incorrect humor, but the film has a good heart. That heart is preserved by director Cheryl Dunye, who reins in the stereotyping, doesn't allow either the slapstick or the syrup to overwhelm the movie and finds a way to make some rather obvious points in a way that feels natural and unforced.

In a movie full of scenery-chewers and high-wattage personalities, the show is almost stolen by Amy Sedaris (sister of writer/radio humorist David) in her couple of scenes as an overamped parenting counselor.

by TOM MAURSTAD
Published in The Dallas Morning News: 01.12.03





			Read the Reviews >> Watch the Trailer: Yahoo! Movies Official Site: Miramax.com
		My Baby's Daddy Running time: 86 minutes, rated PG-13 Three happy-go-lucky bachelors have to give up their partying lifestyle and take some responsibility when all their girlfriends get pregnant at the same time. Title Note: Originally known as 'My Baby's Mama,' the final title switched sexes to become 'My Baby's Daddy.' Distributor Note: Miramax Films picked this film up after a bidding war in August, 2001 that included offers from New Line Cinema, USA Films, and even Dimension Films, Miramax's sister company. Production Company: Immortal Entertainment (Kiss of the Dragon), Brillstein-Grey Entertainment (Scary Movie 2, Connie and Carla) Cast Notes: Back when filming was expected to start sometime in 2001, LL Cool J, Lil' Kim and John Leguizamo were announced as costarring, but it appears they may have dropped out, to be replaced by other actors. (6/27/02) Filming: Production started on September 9th, 2002 in Toronto (originally aiming for late 2001), and wrapped up in early November, 2002.

Directed by Cheryl Dunye Written by: Damon (Coke) Daniels, Eddie Griffin, David Wagner and Brent Goldberg Director of photography, Glen MacPherson Edited by Andy Blumenthal; Music by Richard Gibbs Production designer, Andrea Stanley Produced by Matt Weaver, Happy Walters and Eddie Griffin Cast: Eddie Griffin (Lonnie) Anthony Anderson (G) Michael Imperioli (Dominic) Method Man (No Good) Paula Jai Parker (Rolanda) Bai Ling (Xi Xi) Marsha Thomason (Brandy) Joanna Bacalso (Nia) Tiny Lister (Drive By) John Amos (Uncle Virgil) Amy Sedaris (Annabelle) Naomi Gasin (Venus)

				"The trailer doesn't do the film justice. There are a lot of touching moments in addition to some hilarious scenes with the grown men and their new babies. Anthony Anderson steals the show." by Phil Villarreal ARIZONA DAILY STAR More >>
	(from left to right) Michael Imperioli, Eddie Griffin and Anthony Anderson in Cheryl Dunye's "My Baby's Daddy." Photo ©2003 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.



		Talk about high concept: the Player-like pitch on My Baby's Daddy is this movie is Three Men and a Baby meets Boyz N the Hood. Three bachelor buddies living the single high life are brought down to earth when their girlfriends get pregnant the same night and have babies the same day – so you don't forget you're watching a movie – and they are forced into a world of diapers, formula and real-world responsibilities. The result is an uneasy mix of crude slapstick and warm-and-fuzzy life lessons with the first half of flatulence jokes and party-hearty pratfalls seguing into the second half of baby-love insights and boy-to-man growth. The three men are Lonnie (Eddie Griffin), G (Anthony Anderson) and Dominic (Michael Imperioli). Lonnie is a nerdy whiz-kid, G is a loveable goof, and Dominic is an aspiring hip hop impresario, but all three are just clueless fun-seekers. The mother of Lonnie's child is Rolanda (Paula Jai Parker) a Li'l Kim-wannabe party-girl. From the way she takes shots of bourbon during delivery and fills the baby's bottle with cola, you get the idea that motherhood is low on her list of priorities. G's girlfriend XiXi (Bai Ling) wants a family, but her family hates G. And G doesn't want to settle down and give up on his dream of being a boxer. Dominic, meanwhile, is a father as a result of a one-night fling with Nia (Joanna Bacalso), who discovers she's a lesbian. Adding to the fun are side players such as Method Man as G's no-good cousin No Good and John Amos as Uncle Virgil, the old-timer who finally beats (verbally) some sense into the boys. All of this comes from a screenplay co-written by Mr. Griffin and Damon "Coke" Daniels. There are lots of cheap, easy gags and some uncomfortably incorrect humor, but the film has a good heart. That heart is preserved by director Cheryl Dunye, who reins in the stereotyping, doesn't allow either the slapstick or the syrup to overwhelm the movie and finds a way to make some rather obvious points in a way that feels natural and unforced. In a movie full of scenery-chewers and high-wattage personalities, the show is almost stolen by Amy Sedaris (sister of writer/radio humorist David) in her couple of scenes as an overamped parenting counselor. by TOM MAURSTAD Published in The Dallas Morning News: 01.12.03
				Eddie Griffin in Cheryl Dunye's "My Baby's Daddy." Photo Credit: Marni Grossman Photo ©2003 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.
				Read More Reviews >> Watch the Trailer: Yahoo! Movies Official Site: Miramax.com




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		Cheryl Dunye Director - Screenwriter US - Temple University, 9C Annenberg Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19144 NL - Vondelstraat 49 Amsterdam 1054 GJ - PH: 31206169822 e-mail: info@cheryldunye.com ©2000-2005 Cheryl Dunye