"She's a ho because she's sending you her coochie through the mail"; "Are they cursing their mamas in Spain?"; "Honest tramp-ass ho"; "Just enough savings to keep your fine ass in Gucci and gold"
The line about her sending him her coochie through the mail is a favorite.
'Are they cursing their mamas in Spain?' is enjoyed, and the hospital exchange about breasts in the physical is cited as another Quincy flaw.
The lick-the-sweat-off-Q line is mentioned again.
Monica calling Gabrielle Union's character an honest tramp-ass ho is another pick.
Zeke's argument with Q's mom about keeping her 'fine ass in Gucci and gold', ending with her throwing a heavy bracelet at Haysbert's head, is also enjoyed.
Quincy telling Monica to go be with Dick Vitale is called a good one and a big win for Vitale.
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.
Reportedly considered for Monica: Serena Williams (unavailable), Marion Jones (on tape) and finalist Naisha Butler; Gabrielle Union auditioned for Monica
Casting What-Ifs is spoiled early: the director reportedly tried about 700 people for Monica and, per her quote, required auditioners to meet her on the court as well as read.
Serena Williams was reportedly read for the part but unavailable, and Marion Jones read on tape, which the hosts say would not have aged well.
A Huffington Post oral history from five years earlier is cited as the source.
By the director's account it came down to Sanaa Lathan, who had never touched a basketball, and Georgia Tech star Naisha Butler, who could not act; each got two months of coaching, and Lathan improved but could not hang in a game.
The director is quoted that her husband asked whether it was a basketball movie or a love story; she decided it was a love story because you can fake a jump shot but not a close-up.
Returning to casting after the break, Gabrielle Union is described as a point guard for whom Monica was a dream role; with no acting experience she did not get it and was cast as the high school groupie who goes to the dance with Q.
A joke follows about Dwayne Wade and Gabrielle Union's kids inheriting point-guard DNA.
