Meet The New White Men Can’t Jump 

A remake of the film White Men Can’t Jump from 1992, bearing the same title, was released in May 2023, with many unsurprisingly comparing it to the original. The film was directed by Calmatic, who directed another remake recently of the 1990 film House Party. The new screenplay is written by Kenya Barris and Doug Hall, with the original director and writer Ron Shelton being credited as well. The film stars Sinqua Walls, who played basketball at University, as Kamal Allen, and the rapper Jack Harlow as Jeremy. Their names are different from that of the original, which starred Woody Harrison playing Billy and Wesley Snipes playing Sidney. The original tells the story of two Los Angeles street hustlers who embark on one of history’s most memorable film rivalries. Billy, a former college basketball player, initially hustles Sidney, who selects him to play in a game of street basketball, assuming he’d be horrible because he is white. In turn, Sidney cons Billy out of money by enticing him into gambling in a match he had rigged beforehand. What follows is an ongoing battle of basketball and one-upping but also a more complex story where the characters change and ultimately have more to say than one might first assume.

The remake, however, is not a direct copy and does differ from its predecessor. The 2023 film is much more of a simple come back and proving oneself type of story. The character of Jeremy, despite attempting to be charismatic, misses the mark. It is hard to be too invested in his character. Many of the characters’ complexity and tension seem to have been written out. It is important to note that some of the acting was better than others, particularly the acting of Sinqua Walls, whose character is supposed to be equivalent to Sidney, and the late Lance Reddick, who plays Kamal’s father, which would prove to be one of his last roles. However, even with these moments of better acting, it doesn’t do much to save the film.

Does it Hold Up Against the Original? 

The 2023 film has so far received mostly negative reviews. The film is very concerned with appealing to young audiences who might not be familiar with the original film or possibly only know of it from the reunion the cast made at the Academy Awards in 2022. The remake premiered on Hulu with no theatrical release. It is unclear what it will make against a 29 million-dollar budget. 

On the other hand, the 1992 White Men Can’t Jump received mostly positive reviews from both audiences and critics alike, and for good reason. The film ignited a buzz around sports comedies and was praised for using more serious subject matter, making it not “just a simple basketball comedy.” It was released theatrically both in the United States and abroad. The film made nearly 91 million dollars against a 31 million dollar budget. It has been cited as an influence on future films by many and is also among many directors’ favorite films, including the late Stanley Kubrick. 

In recent years there has been an increase in film franchises and remakes, trying to continue something that audiences originally liked in hopes of a guaranteed return; however, nothing good can last forever or, in this case, be remade endlessly. Not all films need a remake, especially ones that got it right the first time. The 2023 remake of White Men Can’t Jump is another example proving that just because a film was well-loved does not mean its remake will be equally well-received.