There’s something adorable about a screenplay in which the lead actress keeps her friend waiting while prepping in the bathroom, finally shows up, gets to the club, spends fewer than 20 seconds inside, and … goes to the bathroom. All this is done without irony. As was the part when the two women departed the club 30 seconds later. Life moves fast.
True to the Game is only about one of the women, Gena (Erica Peeples), and the acquaintance she makes in those 30 seconds, drug kingpin Quadir (Columbus Short). Will Gena be the one to make Quadir go legit? It’s a gangster film, so don’t bet on it. OTOH, Quadir doesn’t seem to be abandoning Philadelphia to go horseback riding on Santa Monica beaches with any of his henchmen, now does he? That is unless we missed some background.
Speaking of background, the screenplay kindly adds exposition in the Philly nightclub -during the bathroom scene- from none other than Quadir’s rivals, an odd trio including two James Harden wannabes (Andra Fuller and Stanley R. Atwater) and a Denise Richards wannabe (Annika Noelle). Seriously, folks, you win. Even were Quadir adversary to ZZ Top, this combo of bizarre and badass couldn’t be weirder and still be believable. It is evident from the 30-seconds-in-the-club summit (the meet cute was crashed by the rivals) that these folks will all meet again, only less smiley. Boy, they really packed in a bunch into that half-minute, huh?
I have a very odd suspicion with the casting of True to the Game. I think this is the rare case in which the producers went late-round NFL strategy (best athlete available) instead of casting for need. Columbus Short, for instance, is certainly too nice a guy and a tad too young to play the grizzled drug 
lord wanting out of the game. Similarly, Erica Peeples is gorgeous, literally one of the most beautiful women on the planet, period. And she passes for college like I pass for college. She’s far more believable as professor than student. Now, neither of these two is a bad actor. Just the opposite, although I think Short compensates for his natural amiability by adopting a Marlon Brando-like mumble which doesn’t help. I’m sure casting directors choose noted actors ahead of need all the time, but this is a rare case in which I truly believe the casting director just went with talent and crossed their fingers.
Don’t be fooled by the word “Game” or the dice on the poster, True to the Game is another retelling of Michael Corleone trying to go legit. While I more-or-less enjoyed the mildly miscast players, the tale was cliché and ended on a moralistic downer; fellas, don’t preach to me if you aren’t capable of practicing. Shame, because otherwise I could be a people who needs Peeples.
From thug life, Quadir looks for a break
But going straight could be a mistake
You know how this goes
There’s a trio of foes
Who are claiming their Philly cheese stake
Rated R, 108 Minutes
Director: Preston A. Whitmore II
Writer: Nia Hill
Genre: Yet another Godfather homage
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Gangsters
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: Gangsters actually paying attention
