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I Like It Like That

Name: I Like It Like That
Director: Darnell Martin
Released: 1994
Duration: 104 min

Representation Score

6.7/10

Good

1994

Director

Darnell Martin

Runtime

104 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Darnell Martin’s debut is a sophisticated piece of independent cinema that prioritizes diverse storytelling. By centering the Black female perspective, the film challenges the monolithic views common in mid-90s mainstream movies. The film's greatest strength lies in its authentic racial representation and its refusal to rely on external stereotypes. It presents a deeply specific urban environment where the internal logic of the community takes precedence. While the film excels in racial and gendered empowerment, it remains somewhat anchored in traditional romantic tensions. However, its inclusion of a transgender character within the family unit is a progressive touch for its time.

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Category Breakdown

Does I Like It Like That have LGBTQ+ representation?

Good

The film includes a transgender sibling who is an integral part of the protagonist's family life. This inclusion ensures that gender non-conformity is not treated as a minor detail but as a core aspect of the family's reality.

How does I Like It Like That portray gender?

Good

The story centers around a young Black woman's journey towards emotional independence. It focuses on her personal growth rather than defining her primarily through her relationships with men.

How racially and ethnically diverse is I Like It Like That?

Excellent

With an all-Black cast, the film offers an authentic portrayal of Harlem. It avoids the perspective of whiteness by emphasizing the unique complexities of working-class Black life and community.

How does I Like It Like That represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative emphasizes personal emotional experiences over strict adherence to social or religious rules. It portrays the protagonist's decisions through personal experiences, often showing traditional institutions as sources of conflict.

Does I Like It Like That include disability representation?

Minimal

There is no visible or invisible disability representation present in the film's narrative or character descriptions.

Present on Screen

Authentic racial representation through an all-Black cast and a specific Harlem setting.
Nuanced exploration of a young woman's journey towards independence from patriarchal structures.
Sophisticated integration of a transgender character within the central family unit.

Limited or Absent

Focus on traditional romantic tensions limits broader LGBTQ+ representation.
No visible or invisible disability representation in the film.

Official Synopsis

After her husband is arrested for looting, Lisette struggles for independence while dealing with her transgender sibling, her critical mother-in-law and assorted neighborhood eccentrics.

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