Hav Plenty

Superbly written, Hav Plenty is the latest in a growing genre of African-American twenty-something romances. In this strikingly assured debut, Christopher Cherot comments on the nature of attraction, the importance of timing, and the indelible impact of love.

Plenty (played by Cherot with the cool poise of a young Paul Newman) is in love but unwilling to do anything about it. Havalind Savage, the object of his affection/revulsion, has it all: beauty, a career, and a successful fiance. She doesn't need a homeless novelist with writer's block, and Plenty knows it. But when Hav's fiance is caught with another woman, Plenty is invited to spend New Year's Eve with her and some friends atthe Savage family home.

And so begins the dance of denial of true love. Everyone in the house has a stake in the fated union: Hav's grandma, her best friend, her married sister, even her fiance (played with caddish charm by the king of black indie film, Hill Harper). Luckily there is Plenty to go around.

Tammi Jones, whose striking beauty softens Hav's "been there, done that" demeanor, is perfectly cast. Hav's Teflon coating shields an incurable romantic. In a beautiful scene inspired by some arcane mating ritual, Hav sneaks into her future lover's room to try on his Timberland boots. Later she mercilessly flirts with him but, when he responds, sends him to bed alone. By turns subtly cynical and sweetly old-fashioned, this thoroughly honest romance is a delight.