House Party

Name: House Party
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Music
Released: March 9, 1990
Duration: 100 min
Rating: 76
Cast: Christopher Reid, Robin Harris

1990

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 15 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

See All

7.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 8 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

House Party

Now Playing: House Party

Movie Details & Credits

New Line Cinema | Release Date: March 9, 1990 | R

Starring: Christopher Reid, Robin Harris

Summary: Play's (Christopher Martin) parents are out of town, and he's planning the house party to end all house parties. His best friend, Kid (Christopher Reid), wants to go more than anything, knowing Sydney (Tisha Campbell), the hottest girl in school, is sure to be there. But when Kid gets into a fight at school, his father (Robin Harris)Play's (Christopher Martin) parents are out of town, and he's planning the house party to end all house parties. His best friend, Kid (Christopher Reid), wants to go more than anything, knowing Sydney (Tisha Campbell), the hottest girl in school, is sure to be there. But when Kid gets into a fight at school, his father (Robin Harris) grounds him. Still determined to go, Kid sneaks out of the house and faces one calamity after another as he makes his way to Play's house and the party of the school year.… Expand

Director: Reginald Hudlin

Genre(s): Comedy, Romance, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 100 min

See All Details and Credits

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Joel Selvin

With House Party, the Hudlins have made a happy, harmless romp of a movie that, in its own minor way, manages to make a contribution to black cinema. There is a measure of social equality in the mere fact that black teens get stupid movies made about them, too. [9 Mar 1990, p.E6]

100

Jay Carr

Catchy and unobtrusively assured, it's both hip and innocent, stylized and natural, charming its way through a conventional hey-kids-let's-have-a-party plot with bright comedy, great dancing, and on-top-of-it rap. It even manages to send a few messages about responsibility without being boring. In short, it's the best teen genre movie in ages. [23 Mar 1990, p.43]

Staff (Not Credited)

House Party captures contemporary black teen culture in a way that’s fresh, commercial and very catchy. Read full review

Rick Groen

Because of its patently commercial instincts, this is basically a black knock-off of a popular genre. Yet, despite those instincts, and despite the sophomoric moralizing, the movie has zest. The edges are sharp; it holds our attention by holding on to the vestiges of its unique black perspective. In that sense, House Party doesn't so much sell out as buy in - there are worse faults. [11 May 1990]

Eric Snider

Most of the time the film slides along on funky music, lively dance and snappy street-style dialogue. Other teen comedies feature more hair-raising plots and spectacular stunts; other teen comedies are far more sexually explicit. House Party has a wistful, almost naive, air that runs counter to the broad-based perception of young blacks as hardened and hopeless, one step away from doing hard time. [9 Mar 1990, p.6]

Jay Boyar

Not only is House Party breezy fun, but its dialogue often sounds as authentic to its black-teen setting as The Breakfast Club did to its white-teen one. And authentic or not, much of it is funny. [27 April 1990, p.4]

Susan Wloszczyna

House Party has enough youthful exuberance to shake the rafters. Too bad it has enough plot to fill only a closet. [8 Mar 1990, p.4D]

SEE ALL 15 REVIEWS

Write a Review

Negative:

User Reviews

YorkMan

May 10, 2016

There are certain movies made that capture their 'moment in time', and House Party is most definitely one of them.
1990 saw the explosion of rap/hip hop, as it moved out of the shadows and into the real mainstream.
Within this were two very different stylistic approaches. For the 'darkThere are certain movies made that capture their 'moment in time', and House Party is most definitely one of them.
1990 saw the explosion of rap/hip hop, as it moved out of the shadows and into the real mainstream.
Within this were two very different stylistic approaches.
For the 'dark side', there were the 'Gangsta' rap groups and artists, labelling themselves and pimps, gunrunners and murderers, extolling the virtues of money, sex and power.... The whole essence of 'Juice'.
For the 'light side' there were the more radio-friendly acts who were (generally) younger, spitting lyrics about high school, dating, borrowing their dad's 'ride', and the more down to Earth realities that appealed across various demographics.

One such 'light side' act was Kid 'N Play (Christopher 'Play' Martin, and Christopher 'Kid' Reid).
As with any act that developed into one which obtained a 'proper' record contract, they were marketed as somewhat 'unreal' characters, within a defined 'real' world. Kid was the more naive, childish and imaginative one, Play was the more direct, aggressive, but still approachable one....

Their popularity through the period of 1988/1989 convinced New Line Cinema to invest in a low budget movie in which their 'characters' are involved in the titular House Party.

The story is simple enough..... Play's parents are away for the weekend, so he decides to have a party at his house. Kid, having got into an altercation at school is grounded by his 'Pops', played brilliantly by the late, great Robin Harris, and therefore has to sneak out to attend.
The DJ of the party is 'Dragon Breath' Bilal (so called because his breath reeks... A long running joke in the film) who reluctantly brings along his decks, vinyl and microphones.
The female interests of the film are the gorgeous Sharane (A.J. Johnson), who lives with her huge family in the projects... And the more demure, philosophical Sydney (Tisha Campbell), who's a rich kid that feels out of place.
Rounding off the main cast are the film's antagonists... 'light side' rap group Full Force members "Paul Anthony" George as 'Stab'.... Lucien "Bowlegged Lou" George, Jr as Pee Wee.... And Brian 'B-Fine" George as Zilla... A gang of three misfits, whose leader (Stab) has a personal hatred of Kid.

All the principles join the party, Kid and Play both make a bee-line for the more attractive (and slutty) Sharane, much to the disappointment of Sydney who has a crush on Kid. Stab, Zilla and Pee Wee attempt to gate crash, but are foiled. The neighbours call the police, over the noise. And one of the party-goers gets hideously drunk and needs to be escorted home.
All the while 'Pops' is walking over... Dealing with bigoted police along the way (in his own inimitable style).

Things come to head when Kid (after dropping off the drunk guy) is separated from the group, and has a run in with Stab, Pee Wee and Zilla. All four are arrested and, after 'Pops' realises he won't catch Kid at the party and decides to wait for him to come home, the 'gang' have to bail Kid out of Jail.

In the end, after Kid connects with Sydney, and Play gets (amusingly) rebuffed by Sharane, Bilal drops Kid off at home and demands that Play pays for a meal at a Sizzler (or similar!!). Bilal and Play drive off, leaving Kid to climb in through his bedroom window........ Only to find his 'Pops' there waiting for him, grasping a leather belt.... 'Pops' announces that Kid shouldn't get too comfortable, because he's in a lot of trouble!!!

The film is directed by Reginald D. Hudlin, and features some utterly brilliant music of the time. Performances are great, all across the book, and the pace of the film is also incredibly tight. There aren't any lulls in the 102 minute run-time.

The only real negatives, in a retrospective way, are the clear avoidances of anything related to 'gangs' and 'drugs'. All the 'youths' in the film are beautiful and clean-cut, no one looks poor or unhappy!
So, from a looking back ideal, you could argue the movie is not representative of the actual times in which it was filmed.... But to do so does miss the whole point.

House Party is a feel-good movie of the highest order. Brilliant soundtrack coupled with fine acting and direction.
I would heartily recommend it, and advise anyone to watch the end credits to get the names of the songs/artists on the soundtrack!… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SuperbaDMIke

Jun 20, 2022

House Party might be goofy ahh in some ways but is a great movie about partying.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 2 REVIEWS