Ride (1998 film)

Ride is a 1998 American comedy film written and directed by Millicent Shelton. It stars Malik Yoba, Melissa De Sousa, John Witherspoon, and Fredro Starr.

Ride
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Millicent Shelton
Written by	Millicent Shelton
Produced by	Reginald Hudlin Warrington Hudlin
Starring	Malik Yoba Melissa De Sousa John Witherspoon Fredro Starr
Narrated by	Melissa De Sousa
Cinematography	Frank Byers
Edited by	Earl Watson
Music by	Dunn E. Pearson
Production company	Hudlin Brothers Productions
Distributed by	Miramax / Dimension Films[1]
Release date	March 27, 1998 (1998-03-27)
Running time	83 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$5.5 million[1]

Plot

New York City film school graduate Leta Evans (De Sousa) has just become the assistant to exotic music video director Bleau Kelly (Downtown Julie Brown). She almost loses the job before her first day's barely even started when Bleau decides budget cuts must be made for her next project. When Leta offers to do the assignment for a smaller fee, Bleau decides to have her escort a group of rappers, singers, and showbiz wannabes to Miami for a music video shoot. The gang, which is kept in line by Poppa (Yoba), gets acquainted on a decaying bus as they travel down the East Coast, encountering barroom fights and other problems en route to the music video gig.

Cast

• Malik Yoba as Poppa
• Melissa De Sousa as Leta Evans
• John Witherspoon as Roscoe
• Fredro Starr as 'Geronimo'
• Kellie Shanygne Williams as Tuesday
• Sticky Fingaz as 'Brotha X'
• Cedric the Entertainer as Bo
• Dartanyan Edmonds as 'Byrd'
• Downtown Julie Brown as Bleau Kelly
• Guy Torry as 'Indigo'
• Idalis DeLeón as Charity
• Julia Garrison as Blacke
• The Lady of Rage as 'Peaches'
• Luther Campbell as Freddy 'Freddy B'
• Rueben Asher as Casper
• Snoop Dogg as Mente

Music

Main article: Ride (soundtrack)

A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on January 27, 1998, by Tommy Boy Records. It contained five charting singles, "The Worst", "Mourn You Til I Join You", "Callin'", "Jam on It" and "The Weekend".

Reception

Lael Loewenstein of Variety magazine describes the film as having "a few genuinely funny bits of dialogue and some earnest performances" that offset the predictable storyline. The review predicts the film will be popular with the target young urban audience, but with only slight chances of a crossover or international audience. Loewenstein states that the script treads familiar road-movie territory, but the film itself is "technically well above average", including the effective costume, production design, and lensing. The acting is also judged to be "adequate all around" with a notable cameo from Snoop Dogg.^[2] Entertainment Weekly gives the film a grade of D+, calling it a mess and saying any serious issues raised in the film are immediately undercut by toilet humor, and whenever the road trip story gains momentum it is interrupted by cameo appearances.^[3] The New York Times calls Ride "a weak, unenergetic vehicle for character, comedy, romance, adventure or music."^[4]