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Allen Payne, Jada Pinkett Smith, Bokeem Woodbine, Anthony 'Treach' Criss, Suzzanne Douglas ... see more see more... , Forest Whitaker , Wayne de Hart , Eddie Griffin , Lisa Nicole Carson , Adam su Kidron , Ronald Lee , Lahmard J. Tate

This drama, set in a gritty part of Houston's outskirts, pits brother against brother as the two men try to cope with their childhood family tragedy. Jason and Joshua are opposites. Jason, an ambitiou... read more read more...s young TV salesman, is the straight arrow. Joshua, an aimless coke-head and frequently jailed petty criminal, is the black sheep. Their father, Maddog was a bitter and maimed Vietnam vet with a penchant for battering his wife, Gloria. To protect herself and her sons from Maddog, she throws him out of the house. In the ensuing fight one of the brothers fatally shoots Maddog. Jason is in love with Lyric, a feisty waitress. As he courts her, his brother Josh plans a bank robbery with his gang. In the end both brothers must face their past and do so in a violent shoot-out. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

8,645 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

15 critics

R, 1 hr. 59 min.

Directed by: Doug McHenry

Release Date: September 28, 1994

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DVD Release Date: January 18, 2000

Stats: 609 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (609)

  • hunterjt13
    July 20, 2011
    hunterjt13
    A man falls in love while attempting to curtail his brother's criminal behavior.
    If I recall correctly, this is John Singleton's fault. Though it's unfair to judge an artist based on his imitators, Singleton's Boyz 'n the Hood began a rash of "hood" films that eventually ... read moreculminated in the Wayans brothers' parody of the genre. Jason's Lyric "feels like" an imitation, stuck in a particular time, fitting all the generic requirements in, unable to breathe on its own. The abusive father, the aspirations of escape, and the burgeoning love are all things we've seen from Singleton, and there's nothing radically new here.
    What is more, the love story plot, which, during the first hour of the film, is evenly interspersed with the "hood" plot, is so excessively sappy. Every elevator song you ever heard underscores Jason's courtship of Lyric, and the idyllic landscape gives the plot a maudlin feel. He washes her feet for Christ's sake! Then, the film tries to be realistic in the "hood" plot, and when the two plots converge, I couldn't shake the feeling that the film had multiple personality disorder.
    Forest Whitaker's performance during the film's first ten minutes as the damaged Vietnam vet was fantastic; Whitaker set the bar so high that it's no wonder the rest of the actors could only disappoint. Jada Pinkett is alluring and beautiful, but there's not much of a character here. It doesn't help her that the script gives her the most expository lines, especially before Jason reveals the truth about his dreams.
    Overall, this is a poor imitation of John Singleton; see Boyz 'n the Hood and you can tell everybody that you saw Jason's Lyric too.
  • sanjurosamurai
    December 6, 2007
    sanjurosamurai
    decent drama and love story. this film starred a few actors i dont care for but for some reason in this film they worked ok. the story was decent but the end was melodramatic and over the top.
  • qtmemoe
    July 26, 2009
    qtmemoe
    Suprisingly well acted by EVERY actor involved. . . A sweet love story that will please those who want to see it and suprise those who find themselves watching it "against their will".
  • ileo
    December 26, 2007
    ileo
    A personal favorite.
  • LeeLeeh
    February 6, 2009
    LeeLeeh
    Now this movie is loaded with some of my favorite actors, six of them, to be exact, thumbs up, smile.
  • volleyballchicksrule
    October 2, 2008
    volleyballchicksrule
    It was good.The ending had me confused for a second. Man and the dream he was having was weird too..I totally thought it was his brother who did it...His Brother was stupid tho..
  • kapriforce
    August 7, 2008
    kapriforce
    A movie that helped me to understand what becoming a man, a Black man, and an American man...is all about. Black Men United's "U Will Know" still counts as one of my favorite songs.
  • BlackPrince64
    July 8, 2008
    BlackPrince64
    A GOOD "TRYING TO BETTER MY LIFE" TYPE OF MOVIE WITH
    A LITTLE MADNESS TO CONTEND WITHIN THE FAMILY CIRCLE.
  • ladyj061370
    June 11, 2008
    ladyj061370
    Jason, I am TRYING to love you, but I don't want my heart broken. But that's exactly what you're gonna do if you keep trying to save a brother that don't want to be saved!
  • sw691999
    June 25, 2007
    sw691999
    What you found is quiet in a world full of thunder. What person living in this environment can't relate to this love story? Some choices are just hard.

View All Jason's Lyric Reviews

Critic Reviews

Chris Hicks
January 1, 2000
Chris Hicks, Deseret News, Salt Lake City

Overcooked and half-baked. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
September 7, 2011
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Deborah Young
June 23, 2008
Deborah Young, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

April 12, 2002
Globe and Mail

Click to read the article Full Review

James Berardinelli
January 1, 2000
James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Click to read the article Full Review

Peter Stack
January 1, 2000
Peter Stack, San Francisco Chronicle

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Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

September 28, 1994
Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Jason's Lyric Trivia

  • Tur of False? Get Rich or Die Tryin' was in fact not 50 cent's first movie. He appeared in the movie Jason's Lyric as Jason's little brother when he was a child.  Answer »
  • What Actress Links To these Movies? Collateral Jason's Lyric Set It Off Nutty Professor  Answer »
  • In Jason's Lyric, what happens to Jason's younger brother Joshua at the end of the movie?  Answer »
  • Which actory played the character Madd Dog in the movie Jason's Lyric?  Answer »
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