The Color of Friendship (2000)

Too much of everything

So much average

Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

I watch the first 10 minutes of my kids' shows with them for content. They're banned from Zack and Cody, and a few others, because the boys basically chase girls and are sneaky.Most of the time, I can't tolerate more than 10 minutes on Disney. This show was very compelling (even for an adult). Now I read that it is based on a true story. I was relieved to find a story that wasn't over-acted (as most Disney shows); dealt with real issues, but was still stylized (higher budget) enough to hold the kids' attention. Bravo! To my surprise, I watched every minute with my eight-year-old...and had a conversation about the Aparteid Bill, and the follow-up comments on this site.

When I was watching The Color Of Friendship the only question I had was how a film like this was made at the Disney Studio. The answer is that it wasn't though it was distributed and exhibited by the folks at the Magic Kingdom. It's a film of rare insight and social significance, unlike the usual stuff you get from Disney.In 1977 Congressman Ron Dellums through an incredible bit of bureaucratic snafuing got to host an African child as part of an exchange program. But our color blind applications don't take into account that he could and did wind up with a young girl from the apartheid Union Of South Africa. Her arrival proves to be a learning experience all around except sadly for her South African peers.The Color Of Friendship works as well as it does because of the casting and chemistry of Shadia Simmons as Pieper Dellums and Lindsey Haun as Mahree Bok. What I liked most about The Color Of Friendship is that these two young ladies acted like real kids instead of Hollywood kids you see on so many shows.The other thing about The Color Of Friendship is the hope it shows. We older folks live with so many built in prejudices and feelings and the hope of the world is that the younger generations as they come see past more and more of them. In another film about South Africa, a black character says to Donald Sutherland that it's all going to work out in the end because your son will not believe their lies. As we see here, young Ms. Haun does question the racist assumptions that the apartheid South Africa was built on.Carl Lumbly, best known for playing Detective Petrie on Cagney&Lacey, plays Ron Dellums who is now Mayor of Oakland, California. Lumbly is fine in the part although if you look at pictures of Ron Dellums, he could be Morgan Freeman's twin brother. But I guess the producers could not afford Morgan Freeman. Penny Johnson plays Roscoe Dellums who sadly in real life got divorced from Ron Dellums many years after 1977 when this film is set. Her character is from the Phylicia Rashad school of mothers, that's not a put down.Filmed in 2000 The Color Of Friendship turned out happily to be be a harbinger of things to come in South Africa. Don't miss this film if the Disney Channel ever broadcasts it again.

This is definitely my favorite Disney Channel movie. It's a very sweet film about how big a deal people thought your race was a long time ago. This movie is so much better than the stupid musical crap Disney won't stop airing. This movie is actually based on true events as well, except instead of Mahree her name was Carrie I think. Next time this movie is on, which will probably be sometime during Black History Month, you really have to see it, whether for the first time or just for old times sake. Please, Disney, quit showing High School Musical and Camp Rock 10 times per month and put this and your other amazing 90's movies on more!!!!

Glad I check out this site for good movies! I had SO many to choose from tonight, but after seeing all the "user ratings" it was obvious which one would be a good one. I suspend objectivity to a degree to get into watching any movie, or else I'd merely be seeing a flickering lit screen. But I thought this movie did very well, even if the insensitivity of the Dellum was atrocious. But others were just as myopic & self-absorbed in their own unconscious & asleep ego. (Yes, that's redundant.) Although I thought for the message sake that the Dellum family in real life was not like that portrayed. Funny how they were proud to be fighting racism & apartheid, but were SO insensitive & racists (like we all can be & are at times, depending on how you define racism). It's good to know who you are & what type (?) of people you resonate with. As it turns out only 5% of the users voted this movie to be a 1,2, or 3. Looks like a chunk of the brain got removed along with a heart bypass. Pity, to have lost your humanity & have no heart. How else could this be explained? I found this movie to be very moving, honest & real. And it's not just for kids. Acting's very good too. This movie sheds light & opens the heart. What do you want for 2 hours of your life? Special effects? Violence? A "good" guy vs. "bad" guy "moral"? How quaint, gullible & escapist can that be, or maybe not. Anyway, if you're alive with a heart & soul, then this ones for you. Anyway, the race war is being won here in the U.S. so far, at least until overpopulating, immigration, & economic degradation raises up it little ugly head. (This is an easy topic to address, but try the war between the sexes (genders). Good luck!)