REBOUND: In the tradition of THE BAD NEWS BEARS comes another family sports comedy, REBOUND. Martin Lawrence stars as superstar college basketball coach Roy McCormick, who is clearly more interested in his social status than he is in the game that made him famous. Unfortunately, when he accidentally kills the pet bird that is the opposing team's mascot, he's suspended. The only way to make a return to the big time is if he is able to prove that he has his temper in check. Enter the bumbling players of McCormick's alma mater, Mt. Vernon Jr. High School, who goad McCormick into being their coach. The only trouble is that the last thing McCormick wants to do is coach a bunch of uncoordinated losers. Gradually, however, Coach McCormick begins to see the world differently when his players show signs of actual promise. And as he finds himself falling for the mother (Wendy Raquel Robinson) of his star player, Keith (Oren Williams), the life that he left behind doesn't seem so appealing anymore. Directed with flair by Steve Carr (DR. DOLITTLE 2, DADDY DAY CARE), REBOUND features an impressively toned-down Lawrence, as well as a slew of hilarious supporting turns (including Megan Mullally and Patrick Warburton).
BLACK KNIGHT: The Martin Lawrence comedy BLACK KNIGHT, sharply directed by Gil Junger, borrows its theme from A CONNECTICUT YANKEE AT KING ARTHUR'S COURT, with Mark Twain's Yankee replaced by Jamal Walker (Lawrence). Jamal works at a decrepit California theme park in danger of being put out of business by a rival theme park. Cleaning Medieval World's moat, he falls into the water and passes out, only to come to in 14th-century England. There, Jamal meets Sir Knolte (Tom Wilkinson), a dissolute knight, before he stumbles into the court of the usurper King Leo (Kevin Conway). Jamal is impressed at what he thinks is the realism of the rival theme park; only after witnessing a gory beheading does he realize, with horror, where he really is. Jamal encounters the beautiful Victoria (Marsha Thomason), who is scheming to return the Queen (Helen Carey) to the throne, and falls afoul of the evil Sir Percival (Vincent Regan). Joining forces with Sir Knolte and Victoria, Jamal teaches the rebels some helpful football, golfing, and boxing moves before he dons the armor of the awesome Black Knight. BLACK KNIGHT is full of Lawrence's broad humor, and he and the classically trained Wilkinson have great fun playing off each other.