Dancehall Queen

Once you adjust to the heavy Jamaican accent, this film offers a curious and dramatic glimpse of Jamaica's underbelly. Marcia, a Kingston single mom and street vendor seeks revenge on sugar-daddy "Uncle Larry" when she learns of his sexual advances toward her 15-year-old daughter. In an effort to gain financial independence, Marcia dolls herself up--Jamaican-style, frequents the local dancehall, studies the compellingly lurid dance moves, outfits herself in some sparkly and outrageously revealing numbers (the costuming is not to be believed) and becomes "the Mystery Lady," the reigning dancehall queen's new competition. While strong messages about the struggles of island ghetto life lurk under all the colored wigs and Jamaican kitsch, the predictable plot and one-dimensional B-movie characters drag the film--which is Jamaica's highest grossing film ever--down. Optional. (A. Glover)