Nunez and Heart Make 'Juwanna Mann' Entertaining, But Nothing You Haven't Already Seen Before

The old saying that there are only seven plots in Hollywood seems to be proven true yet again with the release of Warner Brothers' cross-dressing comedy, "Juwanna Mann." The story of a man dressing up like a woman to get something he wants is a plot as overused as the odd-couple action-comedy, and one wonders why people continue to flock to the theaters to see the same old story told time and time again. Nevertheless, for what it's worth, "Juwanna Mann" isn't nearly as dumb as its trailers make it look-- although that doesn't mean that it's funny, either.

"Juwanna Mann" tells the story of Jamal Jeffries (Miguel A. Nunez, Jr.), the NBA's biggest star-- that is, until he gets suspended from the league until further notice. Sick of his wild and crazy behavior on and off the court, the same people that made Jamal a star quickly turn their backs on him, leaving him bankrupt and forced to move back home with his Aunt Ruby (Jennifer Lewis).

Determined to get back his millions (as well as get back on the court), Jamal decides that his only way back into the game is to play for the WNBA. Under the name Juwanna Mann, Jamal soon becomes the league's most talked about new player, wowing both his teammates and their fans alike with his basketball skills. However, as Juwanna helps lead her teammates to the championship, the NBA slowly begins to realize that they need their most valuable player back. Now, it's up to Jamal to decide between the life he led and the life he lives and decide what's more important-- the millions of dollars he made as Jamal Jeffries, or the friendship and respect he's earned as Juwanna Mann.

Similar to "Big Momma's House," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Tootsie" before it, "Juwanna Mann" could easily be a success or failure based on its leading man alone. Luckily, Nunez was born for the dual roles of Jamal and Juwanna.

Nunez ("Life," "Scooby-Doo") takes on his first starring role with ease, delivering a cross-dressing performance worthy of being categorized alongside Robin Williams and Dustin Hoffman. The young actor plays both the egotistical playboy and the smart-mouthed country girl splendidly, and audiences should have no trouble both loving and loathing his characters. While few actors manage to find a starring role that showcases their true acting abilities, Nunez should be able to step away from the bit parts he's used to getting and into more leading/supporting roles thanks to his memorable performance.

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