PROS:
~The film takes a refreshing and feministic look at a black woman who insists on taking control of her sexuality rather than allowing it to be defined by men. The message is thought-provoking even for today standards because there is a general notion that a man who dates more than one woman isn't something blamable but the opposite leads to disrespectful characterizations against women. Tracy Camilla Johns is perfectly cast as Nola dealing with men who still have traditional ideas about women and their roles. She is just a human being trying to find her way and her desire is to find something to complete her.
~The film succeeds at the same time in giving a male point of view about women. Jamie Overstreet (Tommy Hicks) is a caring and nice guy who has interest in a serious relationship. He pictures Nola as the perfect family woman and can't stand seeing his patience being rewarded. Greer Childs (John Canada Terrell) is obsessed with his physique and has a big idea for himself but in reality he is a caricature of middle-class prudery. He wants to mold Nola and makes disrespectful comments when he doesn't like something in her. There is a scene that highlights his shallowness where he spends a couple of minutes folding his clothes before making sex. Mars Blackmon (played perfectly by Lee himself who reprises his role in a commercial for Nike) is a boyish, mouthed guy with huge glasses and a gold across around his neck. He believes that Nola will never have fun with someone else. In other worlds, each of them sees her as a trophy indicating that they suffer from a lot of insecurities.
~The documentary style and the breaking of fourth wall make the characters more honest and reinforce their personality. The segment with the men wanting to date Nola shows the sexist attitude that men sometimes demonstrate. Furthermore, the black and white is utilized perfectly in the love scenes. In other words, the directorial debut of Spike Lee was groundbreaking and impressive.
~The camera work is beautiful and depicts Brooklyn with a great detail. The jazz score is wonderful and gives jazzy vibes as it is actually orchestrated by his Lee's father.
CONS: ~The dinner scene is very unrealistic. It is kind of awkward that Nola manages to gather all her lovers and there is no point for doing this. ~From my point of view I don't like the ending. It is nice that nobody of the three guys is chosen because they preety much represent male archetypes. I don't obviously criticize Nola for her free sexuality (that's the point of the movie anyway) but she seems like she doesn't learn something from her experiences and she will repeat the same mistakes. It is incomprehensible why Lee chooses to include a rape scene and after have the characters talk to each other like nothing horrible has happened. ~The dancing sequence is a little off-putting and the use of color is useless.
CONS: ~The dinner scene is very unrealistic. It is kind of awkward that Nola manages to gather all her lovers and there is no point for doing this. ~From my point of view I don't like the ending. It is nice that nobody of the three guys is chosen because they preety much represent male archetypes. I don't obviously criticize Nola for her free sexuality (that's the point of the movie anyway) but she seems like she doesn't learn something from her experiences and she will repeat the same mistakes. It is incomprehensible why Lee chooses to include a rape scene and after have the characters talk to each other like nothing horrible has happened. ~The dancing sequence is a little off-putting and the use of color is useless.