Tenika Early in Jacked Up (2001)

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Jacked Up (2001 ,a.k.a. Jacked) is a well-meaning urban melodrama that overcomes a low-budget feel and familiar storyline thanks to a fast-paced screenplay (for the first half of the movie, anyway) and a few surprisingly strong performances. Less interested in making a “large social statement” than simply delivering a compelling social drama, Jacked Up does offer a few important messages, but (most importantly) it’s a fairly entertaining movie.

The movie opens with a brutal street murder, as high-school senior Dre becomes an unintentional murderer. Dre’s two partners-in-crime delight in the pointless bloodshed, but it’s clear that Dre has some actual morality. After severing his ties with the devious gangbangers, Dre tries to get his life back on track, but is consistently barraged with feelings of guilt. Pushing aside his first year of college, Dre fully plans to turn himself into the police, but he’s got another project in mind before prison.

Dre scours the phone books trying to ascertain the whereabouts of his victim’s family. After a few failed attempts, the guilt-stricken guy finds his quarry; seems that Dre’s murder has caused a horrible ripple effect: his victim’s widow must resort to prostitution to pay the bills, the daughter is a disaffected introvert, and the adolescent son is just this close to becoming a low-rent criminal. Through a series of well-intentioned visits, Dre insinuates himself into the life of each family member, making the biggest impact on the wayward youth. Meanwhile Dre’s old gang members worry about his potential confessional and they begin to take some drastic measures to ensure his silence.

Jacked Up, while not the most riveting urban drama I’ve ever seen, more than capably held my interest for about 75 minutes (the movie spirals into familiarity towards the finale) and showcases a few great performances from actors I’d never seen before. Ron Reaco Lee (hey, he played the ‘mute drummer boy’ in Edward Zwick’s Glory, which means I have seen him before!) keeps the movie afloat during the few slow spots, and offers a screen presence that reminded me of a more-talented Omar Epps. Longtime character actor Anna Maria Horsford (Minority Report) is really quite good with the very difficult role of struggling single mother/middle-aged hooker, and it’s a testament to her skills that the character never once becomes ridiculous. If movies with a somewhat cheap-looking exterior don’t immediately turn you off, consider Jacked Up a serviceable cable flick. Though it’s a bit familiar in some spots and fairly predictable in others, writer/director Timothy Wayne Folsome (An Uninvited Guest) delivers a straightforward, earnest, and generally admirable little tale of guilt and attempted redemption.

Nudity Report: Tenika Early (playing one nasty female gangbanger / snitch / hoochiemama) offers a few sexy shots of B-cup brown sugar late in the film, as her character bumps and grinds with a collection of leering gangstas

IMDB Summary: 16 IMDb members rate this one at 6.8/10. Not too shabby.

Box Office: Played a few festivals; straight-to-video release.

DVD Info: Director’s commentary, cast/crew bios, theatrical trailer, photo gallery, Widescreen anamorphic format, Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround Sound, English/Spanish subtitles


Written by: Scott Weinberg