Is Juwanna Mann Worth Watching? Complete Review

Although there is little originality and few tropes that haven’t been overdone, predictability in today’s cinema ruins half the experience. An audience can sense when a movie is predictable.

This film proves to be so inherently predictable, it doubles back on itself, making the predictability part of the fun. The film, therefore, is a joke of its own recycling. But can it still be funny? Read on to find out.

1. Article summary

Some like the tale of an ego-tripping basketball star being banned from basketball for macho antics. Few like it when he dresses in drag in an attempt to still play the game, disguised as Juwanna Mann.

There is some familiarity in the sloppy humour. A lot in the tropes of the plot. The comedy in the ladies’ locker room. The somehow deceptive disguise and, of course, the falling in love.

Juwanna Mann certainly isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Is it yours?

2. Is it worth watching?

This film has a rather fantastical premise. Jamal’s sudden shot of self-awareness has all the sincerity of a sports agent’s promise. The most notorious basketball player in America convinces his agent, his teammates, the national media, in fact the entire country, that he’s actually a she, with little more than a lilting drawl and a dab of lipstick.

Filled with stiff double entendres, this film needs to be buried at the bottom of an 80’s compost heap. Juwanna Mann packs as much punch as an after-school special; something about a man needing to wear heels to learn the meaning of teamwork

The film is sloppily edited, the gags limply staged. The dialogues are, at best, stale. Being a basketball film, there was hope for the action on court to be entertaining. But, of course, to no avail. It is borderline offensive and leaves the audience feeling uncomfortable being party to it.

I. Plot

The film begins with a pro-basketball star Jamal Jeffries(played by Miguel Nunez Jr.) being thrown out of the league. He has a violent temper, and is so angry with the referee that he flashes the entire audience. He faces backlash, foreclosure, bankruptcy and the loss of all commercial endorsements.

Juwanna Mann - Trailer

He is eventually fired by his manager and realises he has no other skills except the ability to play basketball. In desperation, he dresses in drag and passes himself off as Juwanna Mann to play for the all-female Charlotte Banshees.

He quickly becomes their star player and helps the team climb ranks. Simultaneously, he develops a crush on the team captain Michelle (Vivica Fox) and is forced to choose between love and his secret.

II. Music

Juwanna Mann’s sound track features Diana Ross, James Brown, Mystikal, Lil’ Kim and Stevie Wonder. Its background score was composed by Greek composer, conductor and arranger, Basil Poledouris.

Musical duo Wendy and Lisa, previously part of Prince’s band The Revolution, were also involved in the composition. The film featured songs such as Fame, I Feel Good, Star Spangled Banner, Isn’t she Lovely, and One Day You’ll See.

3. Final thoughts

The predictable scenes are, I admit, inevitable. There is no way to make a film without them. There are only so many tropes to reuse. Originality isn’t may not be director Jesse Vaughan’s forte, but he doubles it back to seem almost satirical. Although Juwanna Mann is not a good movie, it isn’t a painful experience.

Since the entire movie is completely implausible, it seems unkind to single out specific examples of implausibility. The most obvious comes at the end, when Juwanna is exposed as a man. The movie holds plot holes almost every audience member could stumble upon: if Juwanna’s team played the season with an ineligible player, doesn’t it have to forfeit all of its games? Earlier in the film, we are also told that dunking in the women’s league is illegal. Later in the film, however, Juwanna wins the game with a last-second dunk. What’s with that?

The film exhibits empowering visuals of women and men playing together. Differing strengths allow the two genders to better each other. However, we still see drag being used to identify the superficial behaviour and conformity towards “gendered” behaviour through this film. Performative through their exaggerated acting and physical makeovers, these were possibly challenging portrayals for both genders. This leaves me, as an analyser of the film, with a souring taste for it.

Juwanna Mann makes me wish Jesse Vaughan had spent his money on a good scriptwriter, or at least an editor smart enough to delete the entire film after it was made.

4. Grade

5. Info