This romantic comedy has Kenya (Sanaa Lathan), a successful professional black woman, reluctantly falling in love with a white man (Simon Baker), something she never thought would happen. The racial tension is central to the story but it never gets too deep into it. It needs that tension for the story to work but the movie is, above all, about romance. And unlike Brokeback Mountain, Something New’s interracial love plot is no longer a story about forbidden love. Ever so slowly we seem to be getting more civilized.

This is a romantic comedy by the numbers, following every typical pattern of the genre. For those that like their movies somewhat sugary, entertaining without being heavy, and to provide 2 hours of pleasant escapism, you’ll like this movie. The sound track is excellent, the people are pretty, and there is enough humor sprinkled throughout the movie to keep you grinning. If you generally like romantic comedies, this one is worth your time, otherwise, move on to… er… something new.

Priceless Scene: There are no remarkable scenes but I want to make special mention of Blair Underwood's performance. He plays the role of the suave, good-looking, successful black man that offers Kenya a perfect alternative. But for the story to work, this character must, on the surface appear perfect, yet exhibit some trait that will turn us off about him. Mister Underwood pulls it brilliantly. I think it’s the slight turn of his head when he talks to people that gives us this sense that there’s something about him that doesn’t quite measure up. I’m not sure if that’s it, but whatever it is, Blair got it right.