Southside with You

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: August 26, 2016

5.9	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 42 Ratings

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RAISEDbyWOLVESSep 7, 2016

This is a interpretation of the first date (that really wasn't a date) between Barack and Michelle. He an intern at a law firm where she has worked for 2 years and she is his boss in certain respects. It is simply a day together with 2 peopleThis is a interpretation of the first date (that really wasn't a date) between Barack and Michelle. He an intern at a law firm where she has worked for 2 years and she is his boss in certain respects. It is simply a day together with 2 people gauging each other and you want to see how it proceeds. The paintings by Ernie Barnes in the museum scenes are works of true art.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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RandreaganSep 4, 2016

I'm surprised how much I liked this film Been let down with the 2nd Term of this President but this is a really interesting story. Great camera work, lighting, score and good acting particularly by the dude playing B O. Highly recommendI'm surprised how much I liked this film Been let down with the 2nd Term of this President but this is a really interesting story. Great camera work, lighting, score and good acting particularly by the dude playing B O. Highly recommend this. Tells a great story, seems pretty true to life.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

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tropicAcesAug 26, 2016

Two charming performances (this guy looks and sounds just like Obama, it's incredible) and fun, smart dialogue make this a pretty enjoyable little movie, even if some of the editing is awkward and a few scenes drag on for way too long.

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

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RatedRexAug 26, 2016

It was nice to see an old fashion, simple love story, without any twists or turns or 3rd party interference. The movie leaves you with a smile. I'd love to see a sequel, taking place 25 years later.

3 of 11 users found this helpful38

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GreatMartinAug 26, 2016

“Southside With You” is a movie only for romantics and/or a date night movie and I being in the former category loved it for many reasons starting with it has been awhile since Hollywood has made an understated love story that is sweet,“Southside With You” is a movie only for romantics and/or a date night movie and I being in the former category loved it for many reasons starting with it has been awhile since Hollywood has made an understated love story that is sweet, touching, at times funny and is about two people we think we know.

How true the events we see taking place are, how real the dialogue is or the imagination of the screenwriter really doesn’t matter as both feel real.

We meet Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama as they get ready for him to pick her up and take her to a meeting that she is interested in. Almost from the beginning of the film to the end she insists it is not a ‘date’ though it seems to be just that as he had picked her up way too early to go to the meeting and instead suggests they go see an art exhibit. Michelle feels it would be wrong to go on a date with a summer intern at the firm where she is his adviser.

We spend the day and evening with them as they walk, talk, have a sandwich in the park, go to that art exhibit, eventually go to the meeting which makes her look at him in a different light and go for a couple of drinks and then to see Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing”. Along the way they find out both little things—she doesn’t like pie but does like chocolate ice cream—and big things—his 2 year affair with a white woman—and watch them fall in love as they question each other, and themselves, as to who they are. They have serious moments as she explains the double whammy of being a lawyer who is Black and a woman in a predominately white male run organization and he judges her wrongly only to find out how strong she is really.

That we know who they are and how the day will end adds an underlying ‘feel good’ layer to the story. The director and screen writer Richard Tanne keeps the movie and talk on the right level of two very smart, educated, goal oriented people falling in love and letting the audience come along for the ride.

I was not familiar with Parker Sawyers who plays Barack but I walked out of the theatre being impressed with him. Tika Sumpter, playing Michelle, is another story!! I have watched, and hated, her in Tyler Perry’s “The Have and Have Nots” as a conniving, blackmailing, assertive **** and it took me a few minutes to forget that character and accept her in the role that she plays to perfection in “Southside With You”.

Also I love learning things from going to the movies and aside from a few bits about the two leading characters I was overwhelmed by the art work of Eddie Barnes not being familiar with his name and/or work. Be sure to stay for all the end credits to see some of his work, in addition to those paintings they show at the art exhibit. I definitely plan to do research on the artist.

The opening song of the movie sort of threw me as being too jarring for a love story but that soon faded out and the later music was perfect.

For the wrong reason many people won’t be going to see this movie which will only be their missing a smart romantic story of two people falling in love, no matter what their names are!… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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preciouskikiAug 31, 2016

I wasn't sure I wanted to see "Southside with You," but a friend chose it for her birthday movie, and I must say, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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LeZeeDec 24, 2016

First date with a chocolate ice cream girl.

A small film with a small success. It was entirely shot in the two weeks of time. Directed by a first timer, it tells the true story of Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson's first date back in theFirst date with a chocolate ice cream girl.

A small film with a small success. It was entirely shot in the two weeks of time. Directed by a first timer, it tells the true story of Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson's first date back in the 1989 during working for a big law firm in Chicago. Like how Michelle denied it is a date as co-workers should not engage in a close relationship. While Obama is trying to win her heart, the film reveals their day, what they talk and do and how it all ends.

This is not a biographical film I was expecting. I mean I was looking forward to the film, but not this kind of simple story. This looks like another version of 'Before Sunrise', and I won't be surprised if they make a sequel in a similar fashion, maybe a trilogy. So this is a one day event when they were young and passionate about their work, somewhat they both liked each other, though they knew their limits. The writer-come-director confirms all the events from his film really occurred, but not all of them in just one date.

The actors were good, especially I liked Parker Sawyers as Barack Obama. For me, this is not a great film, but decently made one. Obama fans might like it, though you could try it if you like date film in a realistic manner. It's Obama's early life, so there's nothing about his present politics or the president post, except talking about their future plans. But most of the film about between them and their life, like how they grew how, what they love and loved, those kind of stuffs. So I hope you watch it with a low expectation.

6.5/10… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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metaritic123Apr 25, 2017

Beautiful movie. Acting, writing, direction, the music. All great. Short, sweet, simple, and profound. I would recommend this for a date night watch or a rainy sunday afternoon.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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DawdlingPoetNov 26, 2021

This is a relatively arty film at times, with Barrack and Michelle taking in an art exhibition and commenting about how coloured people were regarded by society at certain times. Tonally, its quite a subtle film but I liked that and it makesThis is a relatively arty film at times, with Barrack and Michelle taking in an art exhibition and commenting about how coloured people were regarded by society at certain times. Tonally, its quite a subtle film but I liked that and it makes sense, given obviously the characters have no idea what is to become of them in future years (i.e. becoming US President and First Lady). Its a somewhat thoughtful film, which shows Barack's public speaking already being quite good, his ability to relate to others and to enthuse people to join a local cause and make a difference is depicted. I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to others.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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