Soul Food

Episode 227: Soul Food (1997)

Theme: Wives Choice Month

Hosts: Oz & Curtis

This week, Oz and Curtis wrap up Wives Choice Month with Jenny's pick, the 1997 family drama Soul Food. It’s a heartfelt, nuanced look at the traditions that hold a family together, told through the eyes of an 11-year-old narrator who has surprisingly unrestricted access to every location in Chicago. Join the hosts as they discuss the unifying power of a Sunday dinner, the tactical flaws of throwing water on a grease fire, and the mysterious case of a TV set stuffed with cash.

The hosts break down:

• Big Mama (Irma P. Hall): The matriarch who holds the family together, cooks a multi-course Sunday dinner that requires a week of recovery, and apparently moonlights in TV/VCR repair.

• Ahmad (Brandon Hammond): The 11-year-old narrator and master manipulator who orchestrates a family reunion through a series of highly customized guilt trips.

• Teri (Vanessa Williams): The highly successful, highly strung older sister who pays all the bills but struggles to keep her husband (and her temper) in check.

• Maxine (Vivica A. Fox) & Kenny (Jeffrey Sams): The most stable couple in the movie, proving that true love can withstand anything—even your sister violently pounding on your car window at a roller rink.

• The "Taste Buds" Detour: A tangent where Oz shares his love for a TikTok channel celebrating diverse culinary culture in NYC, because food really is love (and this movie made everyone hungry).

Final Verdict:

Oz — The Adventures of Pete & Pete

Curtis — 77 Vanessa Williamses