The Stream: It’s heavier on the drama than advertised.

The Big Screen: A sharp script, a great cast with Sterling K. Brown as a scene stealer.

The Final Bill: A funny and poignant movie with a good mix of comedy, drama and things that make you go, “Hmmm…”

– Trip Fontaine
Director: Cord Jefferson
Writers: Cord Jefferson based on the novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett
Stars: Jeffrey Wright, Tracee Ellis Ross, John Ortiz, Erika Alexander, Leslie Uggams, Issa Rae, Sterling K. Brown
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rating: R for language throughout, some drug use, sexual references and brief violence.
Runtime: 1 hour 51 minutes
Production Companies: 3 Arts Entertainment, MRC Film, MGM, Orion Pictures, T-Street
Platform: In theaters everywhere January 12, 2024
Notable Trailers: Origin, Argylle, All of Us Strangers, Challengers, Bob Marley One Love, The American Society of Magical Negroes

Hey, Streamers! Hopefully, you’ve heard of American Fiction by now since it has been slowly rolling out in theaters and just received 5 Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Best Picture. It finally opened in a theater near me and is getting a wider release this weekend. The previews of this movie promise a stinging social satire about the role of Black authors in American society. Here’s my truth about American Fiction.

Cord Jefferson, an alum of the College of William & Mary, who won an Emmy for writing an episode of HBO’s Watchmen, directed American Fiction, which is based on a novel “Erasure” by Percival Everett. Jefferson also wrote the screenplay for this film that tells the story of Thelonius “Monk” Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), who is a professor at a university in California and a writer. Although critically praised, Monk’s novels sell poorly, and his editor (John Ortiz) is struggling to get publishers interested in Monk’s latest work. The publishers feel like Monk’s work isn’t “Black” enough. Monk bristles at his work being marginalized based on his race and the whims of these publishers as he sees a rival Black author (Issa Rae) succeed by leaning into making their work stereotypically “Black.” Meanwhile, Monk is consumed by caring for his ailing mother (Leslie Uggams) and dealing with his complicated family life. Frustrated by the confluence of life events, Monk sets out to prove a point by writing his own novel that using every Black trope and stereotype. Rapping, gun-toting, ghettoized-microaggressive hijinks ensue.

There’s a lot going on in American Fiction. It is easy to see that this film is based on a novel because there are many storylines that intersect, interweave, and comment on each other. The film is filled with rich material that is both entertaining and thought-provoking. I understand why this film is advertised as an uproarious comedy, but that is actually only a slight percentage of the movie. The satire about Black authors and expectations regarding Black art is important to Monk’s overall story, but the drama in Monk’s family is just as impactful. Jefferson wrote a strong script that is imaginative in its adaptation of the source material, and it is filled with complicated ideas expressed in a very entertaining way.

As a first-time director, Jefferson had an excellent cast to help bring his strong screenplay to life. Jeffrey Wright is smart and steady as a leading man. He gets to play the dry comedy of the social satire, a tender romance, and heartbreaking family drama. Wright is excellent throughout, which is not surprising. On the other hand, as good as Sterling K. Brown has been over the last few years, he surprises as Monk’s brother, Cliff. Brown gets to be messy, liberated, irreverent and fun. Brown is the center of one of the funniest scenes in the movie as well as one of the most devastating. He’s a definite scene stealer. I’ll also note that the entire cast is great and have standout moments of their own, including Tracee Ellis Ross, Issa Rae and Erika Alexander. Just like the story itself, the cast has more talent than it seems the movie can hold. I wish they all had even more screentime to really show their chops.

I could say more, but this review is already too long.

Ultimately, American Fiction is an excellent movie overflowing with ideas that are poignant, thought-provoking and funny. The screenplay does a great job of balancing the social commentary with the tender family drama despite how the film has been advertised. Sometimes there are too many divergent storylines going on, but it is always interesting and has a point. The cast is great, especially Sterling K. Brown. Grab a big box of popcorn and head to a theater, hopefully, near you.