Director Calmatic's low-intensity remake of Ron Shelton's 1992 raucous sports comedy, "White Men Can't Jump," is a leaner but imperfect version of this story about two basketball hustlers, one Black, one white. Shrewdly, this new version, written by Kenya Barris and Doug Hall, excises the "Jeopardy!" subplot from the original — perhaps because no one could ever top Rosie Perez's singular performance.
Another upgrade is that this remake focuses on Kamal (Sinqua Walls), a failed player who may be looking for a second chance. Ten years ago, he was a high school legend who was destined for greatness, but his anger issues, among other things, got him into trouble. Now he is working as a delivery man and playing pickup games. He resists his friends Speedy (Vince Staples) and Renzo's (Myles Bullock) suggestion that he compete in 2-on-2 tournaments until a funny-dressing, detox-drinking white boy named Jeremy (Jack Harlow) comes into his house and beats him in a shootout.
