“The Rise of Jack Harlow: A Surprising Silver Lining in the White Men Can’t Rap Narrative”

In Hollywood’s latest attempt to revamp a classic movie, White Men Can’t Jump (1992) has been remade into a film with a much nicer, less insightful atmosphere. Despite a script co-written by Kenya Barris, creator of black-ish, the remake struggles to compete with the original’s sharp wit. The film’s original stars, Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson, presented audiences with an energetic and intense rivalry juxtaposed with a strong alliance. In comparison, the remake’s stars, Jack Harlow and Sinqua Walls, fail to deliver a compelling on-and-off-court relationship.

Harlow, a rapper who has become inescapable by repackaging existing music, stars as a former college basketball player with bad knees. After switching to a healthy lifestyle, including a vegan diet and a 30-day detox program, Harlow’s character, Jeremy, dreams of playing in the NBA’s G League. The movie’s director, Calmatic, tries to bring his hip-hop music video expertise to the big screen, but the film still feels like a dumbed-down version of a classic. The result is a shallow movie that fails to capture the original’s depth.

Harlow’s character seems to be at the center of everyone’s admiration, but in reality, he is the only tolerable part of the movie. Jeremy is often too gutless to stand up for anything, aw-shucks away from almost every racially charged argument, and awkwardly rambles his way out of any insinuations of racism. Harlow, however, pulls off a sarcastic tone that gives his dialogues a sincere, yet complete, sense of BS.

Editorial and Advice

The remake of White Men Can’t Jump is a testament to Hollywood’s unwillingness to create new and diverse stories. As the latest attempt to recycle an old film, it is time for Hollywood to reassess its strategy. Viewers want fresh stories with diverse casts, which were evident in recent blockbuster hits such as Crazy Rich Asians and Black Panther.

Apart from the film industry, rapper Jack Harlow’s acting debut is underwhelming, to say the least. As the great white hope, beloved by some in the rap community, Harlow might have been better off sticking to his musical career. Therefore, our advice to Hollywood producers is clear – get rid of absurd remakes, and find budding talents who have honed their craft in diverse environments.