Hangin' with the Homeboys
(1991)
R | 89 mins | Comedy-drama | 24 May 1991
Director:
Joseph B. VasquezWriter:
Joseph B. VasquezProducer:
Richard BrickCinematographer:
Anghel DeccaEditor:
Michael SchweitzerProduction Designer:
Isabel Bau MaddenProduction Company:
New Line CinemaThe film ends with the following dedication: “This film is dedicated to those who inspired it—The Homeboys of my Youth: Reggie Gaut, Ricky Burks, Gerald Burks, Effie Vega, Anthony McNeil, Anthony Jackson, Craig Tindel, Frederick Hicks and Antonio “Clicky-Boom” Morgan. God Bless you all, wherever you are.”
On 17 Jun 1990, the LAT reported that principal photography was set to begin that week in the South Bronx, NY. Although actor-comedian Chris Rock was listed as starring in the picture, he does not appear in the film. According to a 21 Jan 1991 DV article, filming took place over six weeks and was accomplished entirely at night. The grittiness of the Mott Haven neighborhood, where a majority of scenes were shot, both inspired and unnerved the four principal actors. In a 19 May 1991 NYT article, lead actor Doug E. Doug recounted filming a scene inside a car and being accosted by local residents. However, his co-star John Leguizamo appreciated the authenticity of the “ghetto” locations.
Hangin’ With the Homeboys had its world premiere on 18 Jan 1991 at the Sundance Film Festival, where writer-director Joseph B. Vasquez won the Waldo Salt screenwriting award. However, the premiere was marred by protests from the New York editors union. According to DV, “New York Local 771” claimed that certain non-union editors who worked on the film had negotiated union wages for their services. New Line Cinema insisted this was not the case, pointing out that union wages for those editors would have pushed the budget over its $2-million limit. Although the outcome of the dispute is unknown, film critic Amy ...
The film ends with the following dedication: “This film is dedicated to those who inspired it—The Homeboys of my Youth: Reggie Gaut, Ricky Burks, Gerald Burks, Effie Vega, Anthony McNeil, Anthony Jackson, Craig Tindel, Frederick Hicks and Antonio “Clicky-Boom” Morgan. God Bless you all, wherever you are.”
On 17 Jun 1990, the LAT reported that principal photography was set to begin that week in the South Bronx, NY. Although actor-comedian Chris Rock was listed as starring in the picture, he does not appear in the film. According to a 21 Jan 1991 DV article, filming took place over six weeks and was accomplished entirely at night. The grittiness of the Mott Haven neighborhood, where a majority of scenes were shot, both inspired and unnerved the four principal actors. In a 19 May 1991 NYT article, lead actor Doug E. Doug recounted filming a scene inside a car and being accosted by local residents. However, his co-star John Leguizamo appreciated the authenticity of the “ghetto” locations.
Hangin’ With the Homeboys had its world premiere on 18 Jan 1991 at the Sundance Film Festival, where writer-director Joseph B. Vasquez won the Waldo Salt screenwriting award. However, the premiere was marred by protests from the New York editors union. According to DV, “New York Local 771” claimed that certain non-union editors who worked on the film had negotiated union wages for their services. New Line Cinema insisted this was not the case, pointing out that union wages for those editors would have pushed the budget over its $2-million limit. Although the outcome of the dispute is unknown, film critic Amy Taubin noted in a 2 Apr 1991 Village Voice article that, “Lots of filmmakers went home [from Sundance] resolved to avoid union production.”
On 25 Jan 1991 DV announced that New Line Cinema planned to release the picture in April. Although the picture opened in New York on 24 May 1991, a 22 Jul 1991 HR article indicated that wide release would be delayed until the fall.
End credits include the following acknowledgements: “Special Thanks: Melanie Backer; Steven Starr; Rafael Moreu; The People of the South Bronx; City of New York Mayor’s Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting; International Brotherhood of Theatrical Teamsters Local 817.”
On the New York City subway, four young men of diverse ethnicities get into an argument, unnerving the white passengers on board. However, the confrontation quickly dissolves into laughter, and the four friends reveal they were only joking. A few days later, in the South Bronx, Johnny, a soft-spoken Puerto Rican, stocks groceries at the local market. When Daria, a beautiful young woman, stops in, he invites her to go on a date. She declines, but he vows that someday, he will charm her. Elsewhere, Willie Stevens meets with a caseworker. Willie’s “behavior issues” make it hard for her to find work for him, but he argues that, because he is black, she offers him subpar positions. Later that day, in a telemarketing office, Thomas “Tom” McNeil, an aspiring black actor, sells magazine subscriptions. On learning that the customer on the phone is a talent agent, he expresses interest in meeting. However, his boss gives him a disapproving look. Around sundown, Willie visits his friend, Fernando, who is just getting out of bed. Moments after his arrival, the doorbell rings again, and Willie answers the door. A young woman holding a casserole dish asks to see “Vinny.” Willie is bewildered, but Fernando rushes into the room and kisses her on the cheek, before apologizing for having to break their date. Later, Willie ridicules Fernando, a Puerto Rican, for trying to pass as a suave Italian, but Fernando dismisses the criticisms and reminds Willie to call him “Vinny.” The two men stop at the market and invite Johnny to hang out. As Johnny changes out of his uniform, Pedro, the store manager, encourages him to apply for a college scholarship. ...
On the New York City subway, four young men of diverse ethnicities get into an argument, unnerving the white passengers on board. However, the confrontation quickly dissolves into laughter, and the four friends reveal they were only joking. A few days later, in the South Bronx, Johnny, a soft-spoken Puerto Rican, stocks groceries at the local market. When Daria, a beautiful young woman, stops in, he invites her to go on a date. She declines, but he vows that someday, he will charm her. Elsewhere, Willie Stevens meets with a caseworker. Willie’s “behavior issues” make it hard for her to find work for him, but he argues that, because he is black, she offers him subpar positions. Later that day, in a telemarketing office, Thomas “Tom” McNeil, an aspiring black actor, sells magazine subscriptions. On learning that the customer on the phone is a talent agent, he expresses interest in meeting. However, his boss gives him a disapproving look. Around sundown, Willie visits his friend, Fernando, who is just getting out of bed. Moments after his arrival, the doorbell rings again, and Willie answers the door. A young woman holding a casserole dish asks to see “Vinny.” Willie is bewildered, but Fernando rushes into the room and kisses her on the cheek, before apologizing for having to break their date. Later, Willie ridicules Fernando, a Puerto Rican, for trying to pass as a suave Italian, but Fernando dismisses the criticisms and reminds Willie to call him “Vinny.” The two men stop at the market and invite Johnny to hang out. As Johnny changes out of his uniform, Pedro, the store manager, encourages him to apply for a college scholarship. Johnny insists he is not the scholarly type, but Pedro slips the application into the young man’s jacket pocket. Later, Johnny, Willie, and Vinny go to Tom’s apartment and ask him to drive them around. However, Tom has a date with his girl friend, Vanessa. The friends place bets on the woman’s appearance, and accompany Tom to her apartment. There, Vanessa declares she is feeling ill, and breaks her date with Tom. With the whole night ahead of them, the four young men drive aimlessly around the Bronx looking for girls. They stop to buy beer, but Willie has no money to contribute. When Vinny admonishes him to get a job, Johnny comes to Willie’s defense, accusing the unemployed Vinny of seducing women to provide for him. Just then, their friend Louie-Louie drives by and invites them to Manhattan, but Willie says they would prefer to stay in the Bronx. They attend a party, even though they were not invited. Everyone there is Latin American, causing Tom to remark that he does not fit in. Johnny encourages him to dance to the salsa music. Moments later, Willie provokes some Latinos at the food table, and the interlopers are thrown out. Tom decides to drive into Manhattan in pursuit of more exciting adventures. On the way, Johnny asks his friends’ opinions about going to college, but they dismiss the endeavor as a waste of time. The young men stop at an adult video store, and Johnny learns that his crush, Daria, is an X-rated film actress. Devastated, he runs from the shop. Later, Tom drives down a dead end street and collides with a cement wall. Forced to take the subway, the boys jump the turnstiles and are immediately apprehended by transit police. After mocking Vinny’s faux Italian ethnicity, the officers release the young men with a citation. After the incident, the four stop at a diner. Vinny flirts with two women who walk in, but they ignore him. One of the women, Lila, invites Johnny to play pool at a nearby billiards bar. Astonished to see their naïve young friend leave with the woman, Willie, Vinny, and Tom follow. As Lila and Johnny play pool, the three others stage one of their fake fights. Later, in good spirits, the four friends leave the club. On the streets of Manhattan, Tom sees his girl friend, Vanessa, on a date with a well-dressed black man. Vinny, Willie, and Johnny try to cheer up the jilted actor by taking him to a club. However, the doorman refuses to grant them admission. Willie causes a scene, accusing the man of being a racist, and his friends drag him into the alley, where a Rastafarian shows them the club’s back entrance. Inside, Vinny asks Daria to dance, unaware of Johnny’s emotional attachment to her. Johnny angrily confronts his friend, and their argument escalates into a fistfight in the alley. Johnny knocks Vinny unconscious and flees. Tom and Willie leave the club with the Rastafarian, who drives them back to the Bronx. There, they stop at a diner, and Willie asks Tom for money to buy a sandwich. Exasperated, Tom tells Willie to get a job. They argue, unable to reconcile their conflicting views on work and life. As dawn breaks, Johnny returns home and fills out the college scholarship application. Meanwhile, Vinny regains consciousness in Manhattan and makes a pass at the first woman he encounters.
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