Features

The Ru Report #154

Ice Cube Warms Up
Rapper-cum-Hollywood hot shot Ice Cube is a man after my own heart.

The founder of the seminal rap group NWA continues to take Tinsel Town by storm with more power moves … and possibly more bankable box office.

For his latest foray onto celluloid, "Are We There Yet?," opening in theaters this weekend, the 35-year-old hip-hop veteran tests his acting mettle with the role of Nick Persons, a smooth talking playboy who sets his sights on a young, attractive hottie named Suzanne, played by the beatific Nia Long.

The only catch--the gorgeous event planner is the mother of two kids--Two bad-ass kids!

Set in what Mr. Cube calls the "wet, Pacific Northwest" city of Portland, Oregon, the major studio film is a physical comedy, for the most part, that turns out to be great family fun. He delivers as the romantic lead that gets tangled in a web of deception spawned by the mischievous adolescents, played by Philip Daniel Bolden and Aleisha Allen, respectively.

"I wouldn't say that it was like a big ambition of mine," Mr. Cube said of his latest role – a departure from his previous, more adult works. "But I got four kids so I see a lot of kid movies and some of them I can sit through like the best ones and some of them I sleep through.

"I just thought it was, with this script coming up, a perfect opportunity to do one," he continued. "With doing the 'Friday' movies, which are R –rated comedies, to the 'Barbershop' [series], this was kind of testing the boundaries, taking it to PG… something that everybody can see."

Not a bad stretch for the Black Man legally known as O'Shea Jackson.

"Are We There Yet?" is directed by Brian Levant, who hit pay dirt in 2002 with Disney's blockbuster "Snow Dogs," and served as a longtime producer of TV series such as "Happy Days," "Mork and Mindy" and "The Bad News Bears."

The film also stars comic actor Jay Mohr, television pioneer Nichelle Nichols and the voice of "Saturday Night Live" alum Tracey Morgan. With a run time of 89 minutes, the first and funniest comedy of the year's a storyline is not that unfamiliar to people who must to endure unruly kids.

Acted with such expertise by the chosen actors, the youngsters in the film will make one reconsider parenting.

Mr. Cube, a father of three sons (ages 4, 13 and 18) and one ten-year-old daughter, says he has no such problems with his brood.

"I got good kids," he assured.

His key? "I think you have to establish discipline at a very young age and it goes a long way. What I see with a lot of parents is that they laugh at what their little kids do that's inappropriate but cute. You know what I'm saying? I never was that kind. You're out of line; there ain't no room to be cute around me. Be cute around your friends."

Okay Mister Cosby.

"Just by being there and knowing that I'm that rock and that I'm that figure that is not really tolerating too much foolishness, they growing up to be good kids. I ain't have a lot of problems out of them, everything has been minor."

And what else?

"I don't forget how it is to be their ages. And that's what a lot of people forget. They forget how they felt at 10; they forget what they were trying to do at 13 and what they were trying to get away with at 18. I never forget so it helps me. You know with kids they think if they thought of something, it's the first time that it's been thought of. So I tell me kids, 'Look, I've been 13 before, you ain't never been 35 so I done seen this before, I done tried this before' so they respect that. Nothing can defeat the truth so to speak. When you come real with them and you're so true with them, whatever little lies or whatever they try to do, it just won't hold up. Not only with kids, but with adults, anybody. The truth stands alone and it's powerful. So that's what I try to push on them."

His latest film fare is something else he's also pushing--on the movie ticket buying masses, that is. Backed by the huge Hollywood machinery of Joe Roth's Revolution Studios, Mr. Cube and the crew just completed a 9-city media tour for the film, making stops in cities such as Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta, Minneapolis, Los Angeles and The Big Apple. He's hopeful about the project, which his company Cube Vision produced.

"Are We There Yet?," budgeted at $35 million, will play in approximately 2500 screens this weekend.

That's a big deal.

Mr. Cube has come a long way since making his big screen debut playing Doughboy in the groundbreaking John Singleton-directed "Boyz N The Hood" in 1991. He says he's patterning his burgeoning movie making career after one of the greats.

"I look at Steven Spielberg doing all of these popcorn movies before he had the chance to do the 'Schindler's List' and the movies that he really wanted to do," he said. "He did it that way because when he wanted to do those movies, he wanted the studios to be totally behind him and believe in him and give him the money he needs so he could make it right. And that's kind of where I'm headed."

Well playing a romantic lead in a big budget movie who gets tackled by a truckload of tykes while filling in for a clown, going toe to toe with a rabid deer and riding a horse down railroad tracks seems like the direction to be headed in.

In just three months, he'll get another shot at big studio box office fare with the lead role in "XXX: State of the Union," described as a loosely based sequel to 2002's "XXX."

Dreams Coming True
Just as the news of the long overdue big screen adaptation of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" comes into play, one of the show's original stars is gearing up for matrimonial bliss. Sheryl Lee Ralph--star of stage, screen and recorded music--will marry Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes on July 30 in the city of Brotherly Love. The two have been dating for a few years now. The bride to be met the political powerhouse during her acclaimed stint in the Broadway musical "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

"Well, where do I begin?" the self-described "Jamerican" asked "The RU Report," last week. "Vincent and I have been together for almost three years. We were engaged in February of 2003 and he knelt down in six inches of snow in front of [New York's] B.B. King [nightclub] during a blizzard! The marquis behind him was lit up with the words "The Senator Loves Sheryl Lee'"

Now that's a way to a diva's heart.

"He's very romantic," the 49-year-old chocolate beauty continued. "The ring he chose was designed by Charlie Lapsonand the first time I saw I gave it back because I thought it was too big."

"I have since gotten over that," she quipped, while continuing "and I love my ring and my man."

Ms. Ralph said their first date was "an arranged meeting" but also revealed that it wasn't quite blind due to the fact that she "googled" him before-hand.

Now the nuptials are underway for Philadelphia. Ms. Ralph, who has two children from a previous marriage, said that fellow actresses such as Jennifer Lewis, Victoria Rowell, her "Dreamgirls" alum Loretta Devine and Philly's very own Patti LaBelle will serve as bridesmaids. "My bridesmaids are all first time bridesmaids," she gushed. "You know I need my divas beside me."

Her wedding gown will be crafted by Japanese designer Tadashi, who's tailored 'drag' for Ms. Ralph for nearly a decade.

The future groom won the last election with 90% of the vote and has also been appointed Deputy Whip of the Pennsylvania Senate, Democratic Caucus.

And as far as the "Dreamgirls" movie is concerned, Academy Award- winning screenwriter Bill Condon ("Chicago," "Gods & Monsters") has been set to direct the film from his own screenplay adaptation. It was announced last week by Dreamworks. Mr. Condon most recently wrote and directed the critically acclaimed biopic "Kinsey." The film is being produced by Lawrence Mark, who earned an Oscar nomination for his work as a producer on "Jerry Maguire."

"I am so excited to finally know that 'Dreamgirls' will be made into a movie," Ms. Ralph added. "Talk about a dream coming true!"

DreamWorks principal David Geffen produced the original stage production of "Dreamgirls." The musical, which opened on Broadway in 1981 and ran for four years, earned numerous honors, including six Tony Awards and eight additional Tony nominations. It also catapulted cast members Jennifer Holliday, Ms. Ralph and Cleavon Derricks to stardom and spawned a chart-topping soundtrack

"We improvised so much of the original score and script, that it gave it so much heart," she continued. "It was all our hopes, dreams and disappointments put up for all to see and they loved it! I don't think the film version will be the same but I know in my hear t it will be magic once again."

"Is there a role in there for me?"

Well… that would be a stretch. But perhaps the likes of Beyonce Knowles, Kerry Washington, Lauryn Hill, Heather Headley, Kelly Price, Frenchie Davis and Billy Porter can rise to the occasion when casting time comes around.

Music Notes
That little young buck Mario is doing big things. Not only with his hit song "Let Me Love You," which has become a mainstay on radio airwaves and atop music charts for the last few weeks--but with a shift in management. Last night, "The RU Report" learned that music mogul Matthew Knowles will now assume management direction for the Baltimore, Maryland native via his Musicworld/Sanctuary Urban Management firm. "I am looking forward to a really great year, and for many great years to come," stated the 18-year-old crooner. "Beyond that, I'm leaving it in God's hands." Mario will join a roster that includes a bevy of hit-makers in various musical genres; Beyonce, D12, Jadakiss, Mary J. Blige, Sleepy Brown, Destiny's Child, EVE, Floetry, Freeway, RJ Helton, Darwin Hobbs, J Young, Mary Mary, Nelly, Angie Stone, Carl Thomas, Ted & Sheri, Trinitee 5:7, and Xzibit, among others.

"American Idol" winner Fantasia has signed on to join a who's who of gospel music for BET's presentation of its "Celebration Of Gospel" special, taping at Los Angeles's Orpheum Theater on January 22. Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, BeBe Winans, Smokie Norful, Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Pastor Shirley Caesar, J. Moss, Dr. Bobby Jones, The Clark Sisters, and Kiki Sheard are also confirmed for the show, which will premiere on February 24. Fantasia's label-mate and "American Idol" predecessor Ruben Studdard is also scheduled to perform at the show, which comedian Steve Harvey has been tapped to host once again.

Jazzmatazzmic neo-soul wunderkind Kem is also on the comeback trail with his sophomore album, titled "II," due out on March 22. Fresh from a stint at the Detroit Opera House, Kem's first track from the set will be "I Can't Stop Loving You," which recently arrived to radio programmers. The video clip was shot live on location at the December 29 concert, which benefited local charities.

The gorgeous Vivian Green will release her second disc, titled "A Love Story," on May 31. According to her rep, high powered collaborations from the likes of Scott Storch, James Poyser and Dr. Dre will be featured. The neo-soul singer, who used to back-up sing for Jill Scott, recently appeared in "De-Lovely"--the critically acclaimed Cole Porter biopic starring Kevin Kline and Ashley Judd.

RUminations
I think I need to send out an S.O.S. for lifestyle maven B. Smith's daytime show "B. Smith Style." The fantastic show kicked off its daily run on December 6 on the Discovery Channel, played for two weeks and then disappeared into thin air. The show is nowhere to be found on the basic cable network's programming grid. A spokesperson for the former fashion model turned restaurateur didn't have any answers but told "The RU Report" that the show's producers are in talks with the network. No word back from the media team at the channel.

Question: With the last two weeks of the year most likely a period for the highest viewer-ship for the noon show to air, why would the network pull it? It was and is the only programming starring and helmed by African Americans. Is that just a coincidence? But yet the network airs some of other drab programming two or three times a day.

Ms. Smith's husband and business partner Dan Gasby, who also serves as the show's executive producer, remained mum when contacted by us last week. "I can not make any statements at this time but I will when we have concluded our negotiations," he stated. Negotiations? Hmmm. Oh okay.

ETC
The world renowned Harry Belafonte is headed to Harlem. On February 1, the legendary actor, singer, producer, human rights activist and migrant will join The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture Howard Dodson to kick off the "In Motion: The African-American Migration Experience" exhibition. The Jamaican born Mr. Belafonte, famous for roles in classics such as "Carmen Jones" and "Uptown Saturday Night," will usher in Black History Month with the celebration.

Notable/Quotable
"…She used to be married to Sylvester Stallone. So she went from Rambo to Sambo," comic legend Paul Mooney on reality TV's latest odd couple Bridgette Nielsen and Flavor Flav.

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Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com