Deliver Us From Eva is a 2003 American romantic comedy film starring rapper\actor LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union. The film was released on February 7, 2003 by Focus Features. It is based on William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew".
Plot[]
The film is about a woman named Eva (Gabrielle Union) who constantly interferes in the lives of her sisters and their husbands. In order to stop her meddling, Eva's in-laws hire a man named Ray (LL Cool J) to date her for $5,000, but the plan takes a turn when Ray actually starts falling in love with Eva.
Cast[]
- LL Cool J as Raymond "Ray" Adams (cast by his real name, James Todd Smith)
- Gabrielle Union as Evangeline "Eva" Dandrige
- Duane Martin as Michael "Mike"
- Essence Atkins as Kareenah Dandrige
- Robinne Lee as Bethany Dandrige
- Meagan Good as Jacqui Dandrige
- Mel Jackson as Timothy "Tim"
- Dartanyan Edmonds as Darrell
- Kym Whitley as Ormandy
- Nikki Washington as Robin
- Royale Watkins as Telly
- Matt Winston as Oscar
- Ruben Paul as Rashaun
- Dorian Gregory as Lucius Johnson
- Kenya Moore as Renee Johnson
- Henry Kingi Jr. as Mounted Cop
- Steve Stapenhorst as Mayor
- Stephen Saux as Bartender
- Terry Crews as Big Bartender
Production[]
The film was filmed in Los Angeles and Altadena, California. Filming started in October of 2001.
Box Office Performance[]
"Deliver Us From Eva" opened at #6 in the U.S. box office, grossing $6,648,374 during its opening weekend. Domestically, the film made $17,573,594. It closed in theaters on May 18, 2003 after 14.4 weeks.
Critical Reception[]
"Deliver Us From Eva" received moderate, mixed reviews from critics.
Loren King from the Chicago Tribune called the film "a welcome respite from verbal nastiness and sexual cynicism".
Roger Ebert said the film "proceeds so deliberately from one plot point to the next that we want to stand next to the camera, holding up cards upon which we have lettered clues and suggestions."
The New York Post said, "Scriptwriters behind Deliver Us From Eva obviously expended all their creative energy on the catchy title and then promptly ran out of steam."
The Boston Globe's Ty Burr said the film "dawdles amiably and can't quite decide what it wants to be."
The Miami Herald's Connie Ogle said that the film "may be dumb, but it must be noted that the screenwriters of this slight, silly comedy have borrowed from the best."
Theatrical Trailer[]
Deliver Us From Eva Trailer