Hip-hop star Usher has always had something of a squeaky-clean image, but In the Mix's DJ-meets-Mafia-princess story is mired in gangsta clichés. He's cast as Darrell, a rising star on the New York City DJ circuit who was once the playground
playmate of Dolly (Emmanuelle Chriqui), daughter of mob boss Frank (Chazz Palminteri). Asked to spin at the surprise shindig Frank is throwing in honor of his daughter's graduation from law school, Darrell instead ends up taking a bullet meant for the old man, thereby ensuring his already good graces with the Family and also putting him at the top of the short list of Dolly's roving protectorate. In short order he's driving Dolly around town, introducing his charge and her lackluster beau to the wonders of way uptown, collard greens and ebullient, top-heavy women named Big Momma.
Schlock like this used to go straight to the video shelves. No such luck here. Consider In the Mix brick number one in the fall of the house of Usher.
