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This movie was originally titled 42.4 Percent, which came from a study published in Newsweek. That number represents the percentage of educated black women who never marry. The story focuses on the efforts of one such woman, Kenya, to find not only a husband but true love.

Played by Sanaa Lathan, Kenya is a highly-successful accountant at a prestigious Los Angeles accounting firm. She’s on the fast-track to a partnership, she makes good money, and she has a circle of close friends. She’s also the good-girl type, always doing what she believes is expected of her, playing it safe and keeping her existence on an even keel, always following the plan she has created in her head, aided and abetted by her successful, upper-middle-class parents. Her work environment is neutral, her home décor is neutral, her clothing is neutral; everything in Kenya’s life is beige on beige on beige. Very vanilla, very bland. Safe.

And part of what she feels is her predestined, safe path is marriage, and to this end, Kenya has made a list of criteria that must be met in order for her to find the IBM - Ideal Black Man - of her dreams. The list might also explain why she hasn’t even had a date in two years, much less a relationship. Enter a well-meaning coworker, who feels Kenya will never take steps that might lead her out of her comfort zone long enough to possibly find love, and so arranges a blind date. With Brian (Simon Baker), who couldn’t possibly be more the exact opposite of Kenya’s list, starting with the fact that he’s white and not an executive type but a landscape artist. Kenya’s world is further shaken when she also meets Mark (Blair Underwood), a successful attorney who is the very embodiment of her IBM list. Kenya is surprised to find herself torn between the two men, and finds she must choose whether to continue to follow the expected course or take the road less traveled if she hopes to create a long-lasting relationship.

Something New is the feature-film directing debut for Sanaa Hamri, who has an extensive background in music videos and commercials. The movie also marks the feature scripting debut of Kriss Turner, who wrote the first draft of the script, and one of the two writers who polished the rough draft, Lisa Jones. Kasi Lemmons, the other scripter, has had some experience in writing for the big screen, as well as an acting background. The neophytes behind the camera, however, are bolstered by a stellar cast in front of the camera; in addition to Lathan, Baker and Underwood, the film is graced by Alfre Woodard, Scrub’s Donald Faison, and Mike Epps, amongst others.

Something New is a romantic comedy that plays as much for the pathos as the laughter in its script, aiming to illuminate the universal truths that unite us all rather than the factors which rip people apart. With a growing market not only for the so-called “urban” film but also for rom-coms with heart and savvy, Something New makes for an intriguing addition to the 2006 release schedule, and could prove to be the perfect date movie for those who like their romance bittersweet and smart and their romantic comedies with heart to spare. (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)

Vital statistics for Something New Main Cast Sanaa Lathan, Simon Baker, Blair Underwood Supporting Cast Mike Epps, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Alfre Woodard, Donald Faison, Golden Brooks, Taraji P. Henson, David Monahan, Rose Rollins, Kate Towne Director Sanaa Hamri Screenwriter Kriss Turner, Lisa Jones, Kasi Lemmons Distributor Focus Features Trailer Click Here for Trailer Official Site http://www.somethingnewmovie.net/sn-main.html Rating PG-13 Screen Count 1,266 Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture

Comparison films for Something New
Title	Date	Opening	Adjusted Opening	Screens	PSA	Adj PSA	Total BO	Adjusted Total	Mult
Brown Sugar	10/11/02	10.74	11.16	1372	7827.00	7827.0	27.36	28.44	2.55
Best Man, The	10/22/99	9.03	10.76	1345	6714.00	7665.6	33.29	39.67	3.69
Love and Basketball	4/21/00	8.14	9.10	1237	6580.00	7080.5	27.44	30.69	3.37
Two Can Play That Game	9/7/01	7.72	8.23	1297	5953.00	6111.0	22.24	23.73	2.87
Love Actually	11/7/03	6.89	6.89	576	11955.00	11955.0	59.37	59.37	0.00