“Players don’t feel. That’s like a pimp with a health plan!” one of Eva’s (Gabrielle Union) brother-in-laws yells at Ray (LL Cool J) when he falls for the woman he’s supposed to play. The most obvious plus about Deliver Us From Eva is that there’s eye candy for both men and woman. LL Cool J has always powered his hip-hop success by being sexy (i.e. licking his lips), and he has definitely transferred his tricks to the silver screen. Gabrielle Union is also a beauty. As are the actresses playing her sisters: Essence Atkins, Robinne Lee and Meagan Good. And the actors that portray their frustrated husbands are cute to boot: Duane Martin, Mel Jackson and Dartanyan Edwards. Then there’s the sexy hairdresser, comedienne Kim Whitley. Basically this movie boasts a lot of good-looking people.
But let’s get past the superficial stuff. It’s fun to watch this plot unfold: The ultimate P.I.M.P. is paid by Eva’s brother-in-laws to woo her so that Eva, an uptight, hard-to-please single woman, will butt out of their relationships. But… you guessed it… he falls in love. Not only is it amusing to see LL, who will be featured in S.W.A.T. in theaters August squirm and Union (check her out in Bad Boys 2 in July) front like she’s not into him, but it’s also interesting to watch all the couples relate. And it’s especially heartwarming to watch Eva’s hardened heart defrost. Plus, for $26.98 you get a behind-the-scenes featurette on the making-of, director’s commentary and two music videos: LL Cool J’s “Paradise” and K-Ci and Jo Jo’s “This Very Moment.”
