Review: the director seems to take an unseemly pleasure in ( the characters ' ) misery and at the same time to congratulate himself for having the guts to confront it . 
Sentiment: negative

Review: lathan and diggs carry the film with their charisma , and both exhibit sharp comic timing that makes the more hackneyed elements of the film easier to digest . 
Sentiment: positive

Review: embraces it , energizes it 
Sentiment: positive

Review: tells stories that work -- is charming , is moving 
Sentiment: positive


Review: is a dark , gritty , sometimes funny little gem