Cheap Why Do Fools Fall In Love (DVD) (Halle Berry, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon, Larenz Tate) (Gregory Nava) Price

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Customer Reviews of Why Do Fools Fall In Love

"Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" never really gives you the reason why Lymon (played by the talented actor Larenz Tate) was so very important in the history of R&B/rock and roll. Ignoring the fact that he was the first teenaged idol of rock and roll (like the little Michael Jackson of his era) and was an influence on other groups that would come after his, in this film Frankie was overwhelmingly portrayed as nothing more than some '50s rock music has-been who was a bigamist and a drug addict. On top of that, the three actresses who played his wives (Halle Berry, Lela Rochon, Vivica A. Fox) got more screen time than Larenz Tate did, and was billed over him. Excuse me, but wasn't this film supposed to be Frankie's story? I was not interested in seeing a movie about his wives.

Tate did his best, and I had no problem with the rest of the cast...but the script was just not worthy of his talents. I gave it three stars for the musical performances, but I feel the definitive movie about Frankie's life has yet to be made.

A surprisingly good flick, love the time period...
I must say when I saw this film when it was first released in theaters, I wasn't sure if I should expect much. As a big fan of doo wop and the early Motown era of music, I was immediately attracted when I saw the trailer an' I love movies that capture a time like the '50s and the '60s for all their glamour and excesses. But this movie actually did more that that. It is a partly-factual partly-fictional account of the life of singing sensation Frankie Lymon who penned the incredibly-infectious bouncy number that serves as the film's title. While the movie naturally chronicles his life from young man on the streets of the inner city singing to his rise as popular teen idol performing shows with the Big Leagues to his fall out of favor in the industry and his disturbing descent into drug addiction and lowlife status. What sets it apart from the traditional bio-pic is the way the story is told; through the accounts of three women battling in court all claiming to have been the widow of Lymon and the rightful heir to the remainder of his fortune. It is often hilarious to hear each woman giving their accounts and seeing contradictory flashback scenes played out. Halle Berry and Vivica A. Fox are terrific in their roles as would-be wives of Lymon, but, if you ask me, Larenz Tate is the real star of the movie. Whether he has the physical likeness or not, this young man plays his heart out in this role and should be given props for it. Coming off'a role as drastically different as his part as teen-age thug in 'Menace II Society' he really shows his range. With a great soundtrack to boot, this movie is very entertaining and worth checking out.

Love is Blind and So Are the Women!
The title fits the movie's subject because these women were foolish to falll in love with him. Despite his early career in music and rise to fame, he was on a path to destruction, which he could have controlled. Frankie Lymon, lead singer for the group Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, had the voice that made girls across America scream. But watching the movie, he was also selfish because he used his own members, who were also his friends to pursue a solo career; which was never achieved. He married Zora Taylor, a member of The Platters, Elizabeth Waters, and Emira Eagle; none of whom he divorced.
The movie got me to wonder if any of these women could see below the surface of this man. Why did they allow him to descend into drugs and self-loathing? If one really loves someone, they would either help them through or send them packing. It was obvious that he had them on a string. All three of them had to go to court to prove they were legally married to him and collect money from his estate. Unfortunately, the music industry wasn't as legally together as it is now. Therefore, any claim to what he sang is out of their reach.
Lymon's music still lives on as a reminder of the "good old days" when music wasn't sexually explicit and musicians could actually sing.