From Mississippi Masala to Jungle Fever, interracial dating has always been an exciting topic that Hollywood has embraced and ended up using to produce... some really boring movies.

The overly familiar-sounding Brooklyn Babylon features (see if you can guess) a Rastafarian black man (Tariq Trotter) and a Jewish woman (Karen Goberman) who come together on the eve of nearly full-blown race riots, all brought on because of a fender bender between his friend and her brother. Oy vey, now that's original.

Attempting to play off of Romeo and Juliet doesn't pan out so well here, as the scuffles between the two ethnic groups come off as pathetic slap fights -- the ultimate act of revenge being a Jewish-thrown Molotov cocktail that burns down the door to a club frequented by blacks. The mopey Goberman never comes off as any more lovable and erotic than a plate of squid. And the film's narration -- all done in rap, with mouthed sound effects! -- is completely inane. Will the lovers overcome adversity and society's damning gaze? Ah, who cares?

Watch for rap legend Slick Rick in a small role... if you dare.




Slick Rick's got an eye on you! One eye, but still an eye.