Watch Soul Man
- PG-13
- 1986
- 1 hr 44 min
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5.3 (9,009)
Soul Man is a 1986 comedy film directed by Steve Miner and starring C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross, James Earl Jones, and Leslie Nielsen. The movie follows Mark Watson (C. Thomas Howell), a white college student who decides to fake being black in order to obtain a scholarship to Harvard Law School. When he learns that his father's financial support will no longer cover his tuition, Mark decides to apply for a scholarship aimed at minority students.
After several unsuccessful attempts due to his race, Mark decides to use an experimental tanning product to darken his skin and pass as a black man. The plan is successful, and Mark is awarded the scholarship. He moves to an all-black dormitory, where he tries to understand and fit in with his new environment.
Throughout the movie, Mark experiences cultural shock and struggles to avoid revealing his actual identity, especially after he falls in love with Sarah Walker (Rae Dawn Chong) - a fellow law student who is unaware of his deception. As Mark navigates his new life as a black man, he starts to feel the weight of the cultural differences and the challenges that the black community faces.
The movie addresses themes of racism, cultural appropriation, and the experiences of minorities in the United States. It also explores the identity crisis faced by Mark as he tries to hide his actual race, as well as the complexity of relationships and cultural differences.
The performances in Soul Man are engaging and humorous, with C. Thomas Howell delivering a great performance as Mark, while Rae Dawn Chong brings depth and emotion to her character. James Earl Jones and Leslie Nielsen are also noteworthy in their supporting roles, providing great comic relief and adding to the social commentary of the movie.
Soul Man uses humor to address serious issues, making the viewer reflect on social and racial issues in a thought-provoking and engaging way. Although some critics have argued that the movie portrays racism in a light-hearted way, the film ultimately delivers a powerful message about unity, acceptance, and the importance of understanding differences.
In conclusion, Soul Man is a witty and engaging comedy that addresses important social and racial issues. The film offers a great performance by C. Thomas Howell and an engaging storyline that will keep the viewers captivated until the end. While the movie may not be perfect, its message of acceptance and understanding remains relevant to this day.
Soul Man is a 1986 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 44 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.3 and a MetaScore of 33.