IMDb RATING
7.0/10
9.5K
YOUR RATING
One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.One person can keep a family together and, when that one person is gone, a family can be torn apart.
- Awards
- 6 wins & 11 nominations total
Vanessa Williams
- Teri
- (as Vanessa L. Williams)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
this is the most feel good movie evermade and the best family movie evermade. brandon hammond gives a great performance as the favorite grandson and mekhi phiefer does good as the trying to go straight new man in the family overall this movie is one of the greatest movies evermade and the most fun to watch everybody can relate to it especially me. A++++++
When I first saw this film it reminded me so much of my family I actually got nervous. The story depicted in this film is so true especially in many Black families, especially mine. The story is pretty much about how a family breaks up after the matriarch becomes ill and eventually dies causing rifts to develop due to the fact that the one person who keeps the family grounded is no longer around to mediate disputes and to show love and guidance to the younger generation. This is definitely a wonderful film that should be viewed by every family no matter what race they are.
8DP-4
OK, so I waited for 4 years to see this movie. Silly me. This movie was very good. Not great, but very good. The acting really carried what was a mediocre script. The movie did peak my interest in how this family addressed issues openly among themselves. They did not try to sweep things under the rugs. Rather, they used "Sunday dinner" as an opportunity to address tough family issues such an infidelity, gambling addition and encarceration.
The film was also successful at capturing many aspects of a typical, 90's African-American family. Being half African-American, I can see traces of my very own family in this film and thought that the script was very true, open and honest.
The film was also successful at capturing many aspects of a typical, 90's African-American family. Being half African-American, I can see traces of my very own family in this film and thought that the script was very true, open and honest.
SOUL FOOD is an entertaining and, at times moving film that chronicles the lives of a tight-knit African American family. Big Mama (Irma P. Hall) is the widowed patriarch and referee who always knows exactly what to say to her children in any situation. Vanessa Williams is Terri, the oldest daughter, a no-nonsense attorney who spends a lot of time bailing family members out of tight spots and never lets them forget it. Terri's husband Miles (Michael Beach) is also an attorney who really wants to be a musician and is fighting an attraction to Terri's flaky cousin Faith (Gina Ravera). Viveca A. Fox is Maxine, the middle daughter who is married to Kenny (Jeffrey D. Sams), who we learn she stole from Terri when they were teenagers and has a son Ahmad (Brandon Hammond)who assists Big Mama in her job as family referee. The story opens at the wedding of youngest daughter Bird (Nia Long)whose new husband (Mikhi Phifer)is having trouble securing employment because of his stint in prison. The family manages to handle their differences until Big Mama is incapacitated by illness and can no longer be peacekeeper, but young Ahmad, seeing his family crumble, steps up to take up the slack. This entertaining comedy-drama has a surprisingly smart screenplay and first-rate performances, with young Hammond a standout. Lovely family drama that affectionately embraces the experience of a loving African American family. And the food looks delicious!
10do-bye
I totally enjoyed this movie. It had me full of emotion and rubbing my belly all at the same time. It's hard to understand why all families cannot sit down and enjoy times like the Joseph family had. Lem getting arrested, Teri & Max at each others throats, Mama Joe's illness, and Faith and Myles' bad deed really tested that love. This was a film that brought to light about hard times and rising above them. One person can make a difference. Ahmad proved that by getting the whole family back for "sunday dinner." It is always a silver lining to a negative situation. That food would definitely bring me back! We need more of these times in today's world. Forget materials things, love is bigger.
Did you know
- TriviaMekhi Phifer, who played Lem, was at one point married to Malinda Williams, who plays Bird in the cable series.
- GoofsWhen Bird's co-workers are attacking Lem when he comes out the bathroom, he's wearing boxers under his towel.
- Alternate versionsThe first version of this movie that George Tillman Jr made was entitled Spice of Life. It was released on a local cable access channel in Milwaukee, WI.
- SoundtracksA Song for Mama
Written by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds
Produced by Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds (as Babyface) for ECAF Productions, Inc.
Performed by Boyz II Men (as Boyz II Men)
Boyz II Men appear courtesy of Motown Records
- How long is Soul Food?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $7,500,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $43,700,855
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $11,197,897
- Sep 28, 1997
- Gross worldwide
- $43,700,855
- Runtime
- 1h 55m(115 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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