Soundtrack; 11-year-old Quincy's 'you want to be my girl'; Dennis Haysbert; the casting; Black high school cheerleaders; the USC coach's haircut; Monica's life-you-want line; roommates watching the dorm drama; the college party scene; gender conversations; the ex-player's struggle; Zeke's meeting excuse
Eleven-year-old Quincy asking 'you want to be my girl' is adorable; boys at the time usually asked 'will you go with me.'
Dennis Haysbert is one participant's what's-aged-best: Heat, Waiting to Exhale, Major League, then President David Palmer on 24, said to have paved the way for Obama, then the Allstate commercials.
Haysbert's roles often lean toward the no-good man, but here he is a caring father and bad husband, and Q's disillusion with his parents' marriage is a nuanced thread.
The high school cheerleaders and their chants are saluted as the real Black high school cheerleader experience, compared with the sanitized All American version.
The film balances present-day themes with nostalgia, especially through the New Edition opening.
The USC coach's late-80s women's basketball coach haircut and shoulder pads are a perfect personification of coaches of the time.
Monica's line outside her house that as a kid you see the life you want and never think it will not turn out that way is called pointed, a good yearbook quote.
During the love triangle, the roommates playing video games and enjoying the drama, with a shout-out to Charles O'Bannon, is classic college.
The party scene where the relationship first explodes, with alcohol and an available girl, is a familiar college breakup.
The subtle conversations about gender, including the choice between personal and professional life and the lack of visibility for women, aged incredibly well in the hosts' view.
The complication of being an ex-player, shown through Haysbert's character trying to build a life after playing, aged extraordinarily well.
Zeke's 'tell mom I have a meeting, I'll be home later' affair excuse is offered for both best and worst: the worst excuse ever, from the worst cheater ever.
