Sheryl Lee Ralph stars as Joanne in “Ricky” (Photo Credit: Blue Harbor Entertainment).
(“Ricky” trailer courtesy of Blue Harbor Entertainment)
The school-to-prison pipeline is a sad reality for many people, especially those from the African-American community.
One mistake can ruin multiple lives.
And even when one desires to stay on the straight and narrow, trouble often finds them if they are from troubled homes and communities.
The movie “Ricky,” featuring an all-star cast, highlights this grim reality.
But “Ricky” also proves that there is still purpose in pain and despair.
In “Ricky,” Ricardo Smith (Stephan James, “The Piano Lesson” and “Race”) returns to his hometown of East Hartford, Conn., to find life has changed drastically since he has been gone.
He does not have any social media accounts, which is off-putting to women like Jaz (Imani Lewis).
Ricardo does not know how to properly use his smartphone.
In fact, he does not even know his cell phone number when Jaz asks for it.
While the new world has his head spinning continuously, he must keep it together long enough to prove to the legal system that he is worthy of a second chance.
When Ricky got into a little trouble as a teenager, he ended up throwing his formative years away.
He got locked up before he learned how to drive.
Ricardo got incarcerated before he had much of any experience with the opposite sex.
And he went to prison before he could get an education and learn skills that would make him desirable on the job market.
Luckily, he has one skill that allows him to meet new people and make some pennies, especially when he is laid off from a job that a childhood friend helped him secure.
Although Ricky’s mother (Simbi Kali) and the women of his local church constantly pray over him and lay hands on him, a person with his background does not have it easy when attempting to put their life back together again after spending half of their life behind prison bars.
His parole conditions require constant supervision from his parole officer, Joanne (Sheryl Lee Ralph).
Joanne has a rough exterior and takes no nonsense from her parolees.
But she does have a soft spot for Ricky.
Although she does not play any games with Ricky, she knows there is more beneath the surface than his rap sheet would suggest.
But meeting Joanne’s requirements for counseling and check-ins proves difficult when Ricky does not have a car.
He attempts to ride public transportation.
Unfortunately, that is not always reliable.
Ricardo attempts to bum rides from his little brother, James (Malik Johnson).
However, James has his own life, which includes a job, partying and entertaining young ladies, which is something his celibate brother cannot relate to since he has been inside for so long.
Therefore, he is forced to walk the streets of East Hartford, Conn., which is not always the best means of getting around, especially for those who live in rough neighborhoods.
Ricky has his eyes on an automobile being sold by Leslie Torino (Titus Welliver, “Bosch”).
But since ex-cons often have a hard time staying employed because of required background checks, buying the car is not as simple as it would be for a person without a criminal record.
Furthermore, being around other ex-convicts, even in group counseling, could lead to recidivism.
Although many are trying to get their lives back in order via counseling, it is easy to slip back into a person’s past behavior if they are constantly around other people with similar backgrounds and proclivities.
Furthermore, when one of Ricky’s colleagues does not have as much to lose as he does, that person might not always behave in a way that is in Ricky’s best interest.
The movie “Ricky” wins because of the talent in front of the camera.
Ralph is not the main star of “Ricky.”
But she shines the brightest in her performance as a take-no-prisoners police officer.
Her character, Joanne, epitomizes the term tough love.
Joanne is like that one strict auntie who allows their nephew to live with them when their parents kick them out.
However, her kindness should not be mistaken for weakness, because when that “nephew” enters the home, it is not to visit or chill.
It is to get their life on track so that they get out and on their own as soon as possible.
Another familiar face is Sean Nelson (“The Wood”), who stars as Ricky’s childhood friend, Terrence.
Although Terrence attempts to help his longtime friend get on his feet, he cannot do as much for him as he wants because he has a family and a boss he must answer to.
The only character that did not measure up to the others is Cheryl (Andrenas Ward-Hammond), and it is not the fault of the actress, by any means.
Unfortunately, the scene that causes the most stress in Ricky’s life centers on her character, and the scene was not as good as it should have been.
But “Ricky” shows how a person does not have to be defined by their mistakes.
Sometimes, a person finds their purpose in life because of those mistakes.
And what a person does with their second chances is what ultimately matters.
Moreover, just because someone’s life has been sad for so long does not mean it has to end on a sad note.
“Ricky” hit theaters in over 60 markets, including Houston, on April 24.
It is also now available on all digital platforms.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
- Movie Review: ‘731’ Another Film That is a Warning - September 26, 2025
