Cover
DVD Mystery Explores Life on the Down-Low
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Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: May 13, 2008
Run Time: 98 minutes
DVD Review by Kam Williams
Fair (1 star)
Valerie Maas’ (Aunjanue Ellis) world comes apart at the seams
the day she catches her husband, Dutch (Raz Adoti), in the
shower naked with another man. She doesn't buy his ’It’s not
what it looks like defense,’ and realizes she’s been living a
lie with a guy who didn't even use protection while on the
so-called down-low.
But before she can figure out how to break the news that daddy
is bisexual to their young daughter, Nicole (Tomorrow Baldwin
Montgomery), Valerie finds herself behind bars and facing a
murder rap. Fortunately, this churchgoing Christian has a strong
enough faith to help her bear the burden of being wrongfully
accused. 
On the way to clearing her name, we're treated to such
silliness in Philly that one has to wonder exactly what’s going
on here. For Cover, directed by veteran director Bill Duke, is
an unintentionally funny, flashback flick which is practically
impossible to take seriously at face value.
For example, one character calls homosexuality a ’white
disease.’ Another, who has AIDS, boasts about secretly ’sharing
the gift,’ meaning having unprotected sex with people who don't
know he’s HIV+, illogically explaining that he’d rather be a
monster than honest.
As confusing as it is improbable, this mess of a movie wastes a
talented cast which includes
Vivica
A. Fox, Lou Gossett, Jr., Leon, Patti LaBelle, Paula Jai
Parker, Clifton Davis, Roger Guenveur Smith and Mya. However,
the goings-on bear such little resemblance to reality, that I
was often unsure what genre of movie I was even watching.
A blaxploit? A sci-fi adventure? An out of the closet drama? A
whodunit? A genderbending romance? A slapstick sitcom? Likely, a
little of all of the above. A disaster which fails miserably in
an attempt to address a pressing social issue.
Related Links
Vivica A. Fox Interview
http://aalbc.com/reviews/vivica_a_fox.htm