Soul Man ** (1986, C Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross, Melora Hardin, James B Sikking, Leslie Nielsen, James Earl Jones) – Classic Movie Review 10,722

Director Steve Miner’s 1986 Soul Man stars C Thomas Howell as pampered white California kid Mark Watson who turns himself into a young black man with super-tanning pills and a curly perm to get a special full scholarship to Harvard Law School intended for an African-American applicant. This satirical teen comedy is glib and mostly trivial, but it is adroitly executed and often amusing.

A sincere and appealing performance by amiable hero Howell, likeable performances by a good, game cast, and Miner’s fast-paced direction help it make the grade. Certainly it is awkward, possibly wrong-headed, and it provoked controversy, but at least its heart is in the right place.

Ron Reagan, the son of Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan, appears in his sole feature as Frank.

Also in the cast are Rae Dawn Chong, Arye Gross, Melora Hardin, James B Sikking, Leslie Nielsen, James Earl Jones, Max Wright, Ann Walker, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Maree Cheatham, Wallace Langham [Wally Ward], and Jeff Altman.

Writer: Carol Black.

Soul Man is directed by Steve Miner, runs 104 minutes, is made by Balcor Film Investors and Steve Tisch Company, is released by New World Pictures (1986) (US) and Castle Premier Releasing (1988) (UK), is written by Carol Black, is shot by Jeffrey Jur, is produced by Steve Tisch, is scored by Tom Scott and is designed by Greg Fonseca.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 10,722

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