The Player's Club: 8 BEERS (Major problems)

Diana (LisaRaye) works at a shoe store to put herself through college. One day two strippers come in and convince her to use what she's got to get what she wants, money. Diana soon finds herself employed at The Player's Club. Dollar Bill (Bernie Mac), the proprietor, gives her the stage name Diamond and she starts her new career as an exotic dancer. Diana starts reluctantly but soon learns the tricks of the trade and accepts it for what it is, a job. Things are going alright for Diana until her little cousin Ebony (Monica Calhoun) starts working at the club and gets involved in some exrta work. Dollar Bill has some problems of his own, he owes a mysterious gangster a big chunk of change. Li'l Man (A.J. Johnson), the club doorman keeps covering for Dollar Bill, at his own peril, so Reggie (Ice Cube) is sent to stakeout the club. Soon everyone's problems come to a head at once.

The biggest problem with The Player's Club is the main character. Diana is not interesting enough to be the focus. She made her own choices and it is hard to feel sorry for her when things turn south. While there are entertaining secondary characters like Li'l Man, Dollar Bill and Blue (Jamie Foxx), they hardly get enough time to show us. Bernie Mac did a great job with what little he was given and left me wanting to see more of the money hungry owner Dollar Bill. The Player's Club could have been so much better with a slightly different emphasis. As is, it drifts and drags to an obvious conclusion.

Official Players Club Page

Photo from New Line Cineam