Strictly Business (1991 film)

Strictly Business is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Kevin Hooks and starring Tommy Davidson, Joseph C. Phillips, and Halle Berry. The supporting cast includes Anne-Marie Johnson, David Marshall Grant, Jon Cypher, and Samuel L. Jackson. The film follows the ways of a mail clerk as he tries to hook his executive friend up with his clubbing girl pal and plays on comedy, business, romance, and ethics. It features a young Sam Rockwell, and the R&B group Jodeci right before their musical success. The film was shot at various locations in New York City. The prime location used in shooting the film was Manhattan. The film was released on November 8, 1991 and was made available for a selected audience rather than being widely released.

Plot
Party boy Bobby is a mail clerk in a big firm, but he has a trump card—an executive at the firm he works for, in the person of Waymon, an African-American who is on the verge of making partner in the firm. They make a deal in which Waymon will try to move Bobby to the trainee broker program if he will help him meet beautiful party girl Natalie, the girl of his dreams. There's only one problem: Everyone will have to adapt.

Cast

 * Tommy Davidson as Bobby Johnson: Bobby is a mail clerk at a major real estate firm in New York City who is care free. He is a party type who is always going out even when he has to work the next day. Despite his meek background and his club status he has some big time connections. He agrees to introduce Waymon to Natalie, as long as Waymon makes Bobby his trainee.
 * Joseph C. Phillips as Waymon Tinsdale III: Waymon is a big business man who is about to be made a partner at the firm if he can close out a big deal. He is stuck in an unhappy relationship and by chance bumps into the woman of his dreams while out to lunch one day. His friend Bobby holds the key to hooking both of them up because he knows both of them and how to connect them.
 * Halle Berry as Natalie: She is Waymon's dream girl. She is a club promoter. She also has dreams of owning her own club some day.
 * Anne-Marie Johnson as Diedre: She is the girlfriend of Waymon. She doesn't really love him but is with him because they make a good team. She is very controlling and is very materialistic.
 * David Marshall Grant as David: He is a big business man and works at the firm with Waymon and Bobby. He pretends to be Waymon's friend but is actually racist and is plotting against him to fail in his latest deal.
 * Jon Cypher as Drake: He is the owner of the firm that Bobby and Waymon work at. He is the one who will promote Waymon if the deal goes through.
 * Samuel L. Jackson as Monroe: He is the supervisor of the mailroom. He is a person who tries to assert his authority at all given times and also tries to suck up when the high ups are around. He is always looking for a reason to get rid of Bobby.
 * Sam Rockwell as Gary: A St. John's graduate (who is also Bobby's Friend/former co-worker) who got a promotion (to work upstairs) by David.
 * Annie Golden as Sheila

Soundtrack
Main article: Strictly Business (soundtrack)

A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on October 29, 1991 by Uptown Records. It peaked at 64 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.