I Like it Like That (1994)
90%RT Audience Score: 91%
Awards & Nominations: NA
I Like It Like That is a cinematic gem that shines brightly among the sea of big-budget Hollywood features. Director Darnell Martin’s remarkable first film is a feisty comedy-drama that explores the complex human predicaments of a young couple struggling to raise a family and salvage their relationship. Martin’s strong cinematic style and depth of writing are evident throughout the film, and she skillfully avoids clichés by shifting to subtler viewpoints. The film’s bright urban comedy yields emotional truths about pride, doubt, selfhood, and love, and the performances by the young cast, particularly Lauren Velez as Lisette, are riveting. I Like It Like That is a lusty, lively portrait of life that is constantly surprising and original, and it demands to be taken on its own terms as a romantic comedy. Martin’s control over the material is extraordinary for a first-time director, and the film is a startlingly original work from a director with solid storytelling skills and visual panache. In short, I Like It Like That is a must-see film that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired.
“I Like It Like That” is a movie that will make you laugh, cry, and dance in your seat. The director, Darnell Martin, does an amazing job of bringing the characters to life and making you feel like you’re right there with them in the Bronx. The performances by the young cast are spirited and energetic, especially Lauren Velez who plays Lisette. The film tackles complex issues like pride, doubt, selfhood, and love, but does so in a way that is both entertaining and emotionally resonant. Plus, any movie that uses “Try a Little Tenderness” as its theme song is a winner in my book. Overall, “I Like It Like That” is a feisty and fun comedy-drama that is definitely worth watching.
Production Company(ies)
Boom! Studios, Columbia Pictures
Distributor
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
R
Year of Release
1994
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Jul 13, 2004
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Jon Seda, Lauren Vélez, Tomas Melly, Desiree Casado, Isaiah Garcia, Jesse Borrego, Luna Lauren Velez, Rita Moreno, directed by Darnell Martin, written by Darnell Martin, produced by Ann Carli, Lane Janger, drama, R rating, box office gross of $1.7M, reviewed by Anderson Jones, Rene Rodriguez, Jami Bernard, Eleanor Ringel Cater, Roger Ebert, Jo Berry, Calvin Wilson, Robin Dougherty, Barbara Vancheri, Steve Persall, Wallace Baine, actor names, director names, writer names, genre, box office performance, budget, critic names, producer names, MPAA rating
Worldwide gross: $1,760,527
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: $1,760,527
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Jon Seda – Chino Linares
Tomas Melly – Li’l Chino Linares
Desiree Casado – Minnie Linares
Isaiah Garcia – Pee Wee Linares
Jesse Borrego – Alexis
Director(s)
Darnell Martin
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (67) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (59) | Rotten (8)
Martin pries spirited performances from her young cast. She shepherds the striking Velez winningly from her stage work into an inspired film performance, and she wrenches both machismo and vulnerability from Seda. Rita Moreno also does a fine turn.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Anderson Jones
Detroit Free Press
TOP CRITIC
This feisty comedy-drama about a young couple struggling to raise a family and salvage their relationship is a remarkable first film, imbued with a strong cinematic style and a depth of writing lacking in most big-budget Hollywood features.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Rene Rodriguez
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
As the movie progresses, just when you think a cliché is coming, the camera wards it off by shifting to the subtler viewpoint. In this way, a bright urban comedy yields emotional truths about pride, doubt, selfhood and love.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Jami Bernard
New York Daily News
TOP CRITIC
It’s a heck of a debut by a filmmaker who’s obviously drawn to complex human predicaments. complex human predicaments. Besides, any film that takes “Try a Little Tenderness” as its theme song has its heart in the right place.
March 2, 2022
Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TOP CRITIC
I Like It Like That looks more unconventional than it is, but Martin puts a spin on the material with lots of human color and high energy.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
TOP CRITIC
The film demands to be taken on its own terms as a romantic comedy. The message that Lisette can do much better on her own without the help of any of the men in her life is well argued.
March 2, 2022
Jo Berry
Sight & Sound
TOP CRITIC
It’s a startlingly original work from a director with solid storytelling skills and visual panache.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3.5/4
Calvin Wilson
Kansas City Star
Lauren Velez, who plays Lisette, gives a riveting performance. She anchors the film in everyday domestic reality and propels it ahead into uncharted territory.
March 2, 2022
Robin Dougherty
Boston Phoenix
A lusty, lively portrait of life.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Barbara Vancheri
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Martin, as screenwriter and director, maintains an extraordinary sense of control over this unique material for a first-time director. I Like It Like That is constantly surprising, for the plot twists it avoids as much as for its originality.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: A-
Steve Persall
Tampa Bay Times
Like It is a richly textured story of Lisette’s struggle to set herself apart from the soul-sapping entropy of her surroundings, often to comic effect.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: B+
Wallace Baine
Santa Cruz Sentinel
I Like It Like That isn’t quite as accomplished as Crooklyn, but it comes with the same mixture of nostalgia, stress and a certain urban comfort.
March 2, 2022 | Rating: 3/4
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee…
Plot
After her husband is arrested for looting, Lisette lands a job as an assistant to a record executive and becomes a changed woman, causing her husband to question if she still needs him in I Like It Like That.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rita Moreno also does a fine turn in the film.
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