Critical Score:  65

Starring:  Amandla Stenberg, Common, Russell Hornsby, Regina Hall

Director:  George Tillman Jr.

The title of the movie is based on lyrics from Tupac:  THUG LIFE – The Hate You Give Little Infants F Everybody.  So many scenes are overly dramatic, but it’s hard not to get drawn into them.  The film displays a situation we are all familiar with – a young black man is mistakenly shot when a white police officer pulls him over for not signaling a lane change.  The problem is that this movie is short on answers; sometimes the main characters resort to violence, sometimes (particularly at the end of the movie) they don’t.  It’s a complicated dilemma that can really only be handled situation by situation.  A lot of the acting seems forced at times and the viewer is taken out of the experience due to this.  Amandla has a big role to fill here and overall does a pretty good job.  It seems to me that the best way for African Americans and all minorities to be treated the same is to do good work – regardless of the subject matter of the film or project or business endeavor.  This movie is kind of like “Crazy Rich Asians” in a way that says Look ! we are all Asians and we are making a big Hollywood production !!  “The Hate U Give” is too obvious in it’s attempt to level all racial playing fields.  The messaging would be better if if were more subtle.  It’s possible that this film could stir emotions and cause a greater divide from African Americans and whites.  In short, I thought it was a little short on solutions to the racial issues in our country today and a little awkward to watch.