Plot Details: This opinion reveals major details about the movie's plot.

Every time my birthday approaches, I start to get a little worried. Each new year brings on a different set of values and attitudes about myself and the world around me. I start to lunch on my past choices, doubts about myself and failures as opposed to looking at the brighter things in life. I start to think about all the ground that I had thought I’d conquer that I still haven’t gotten to yet. Sometimes I even shed a tear, but then the day and hour comes and I continue to walk the walk and fight the fight without any problems, just a new age, that woman never tell.

I found a movie that is a hilarious view of the way people take aging. Directed by Vanessa Middleton was a part comedy, part drama and part romance film that follows a group of friends all hitting 30 years old. 30 Years to Life is just under 2 hours and it is Rated R because there is a whole lot of cursing involved. Now every time my birthday approaches, this movie can be the one to kind of help me to overcome my worries and bring on some laughter.

Erika Alexander plays the role of Joy. Joy is a woman just turned 30 years old who has been dating her boyfriend Leland (T.E. Russell) for years and live together. At 30 years old she comes to the conclusion that she wants to be married and is a little disappointed that Leland never even seemed to have the slightest interest in taking the next step. Joy gives Leland an ultimatum on marriage and he proposes to her, but only by accident. Now they are engaged to be married but he doesn’t want to even approach the idea.

Melissa DeSousa plays the role of Natalie. Natalie is a partner at her law firm and has been losing her edge since she has turned 30 years old. But one thing stands sure; She finds interest in Dr. Bruce (Kadeem Hardison) until she finds out some things about him that is not so comforting to deal with. They have some romantic scenes where you see him massaging and kissing her feet. But when she goes to return the favor, she is disgusted to learn that he has 6 toes on each foot. Bruce is also the type that wants his woman to choose him over work and though their relationship is on the right track, they become indifferent about each other.

Allen Payne plays the role of Malik. At 30 years old, he is doing well in his career and has been offered the position as partner until he decides to quit his job to pursue his dream of being a model. And what a dream it was to drive him to take other measures that he’d never weighed into it. Now he is constantly auditioning for parts and having to show his stuff to get work. He’s also the one in the movie that is the player type. He is fine but dogs women and sees his faults in the long run.

Paula J Parker plays an overweight sister by the name of Stephanie who had been dating Troy (Tracy Morgan) until he dumps her. Stephanie is really sad about her weight and does something about it to come to terms with her new year; She gets liposuction and now has an image that every man is interested in. That is, except for Troy who is saddened to see her strutting what he loved in a different image. Malik had no problem going after her and finding his way into her heart. Troy is a stand-up comedian and is at audition after audition. He confesses to Stephanie that he dumped her because he was broke and couldn’t do anything to make her happy.

This movie is about truth, direction and taking the next step. It is about claiming your desires and doing what is in your heart. It is about maturing and having confidence.

I liked 30 Years To Life. I have to admit, the title kind of fooled me. Seeing a title like this makes you think it has to do with prison time or something. But then I think about when people settle with less than what they want or deserve and are stuck in a rut, it kind of is like being in shackles until you loosen them and are able to dance your way to the freedom of balanced strength. The acting was good and the storyline was pretty interesting.

Tracy Morgan is so silly using his hilarious comedic skills to make his role funny. I liked seeing Erika Alexander in a role. It has been a long time since Living Single was on television and since then, I haven't seen her in anything except for re-runs.

I like the role of Stephanie talking about weight and the change that she decided to make. Weight is like the most popular issue today. The media even started talking about weight with household pets. Many people however do not know that the average size of a woman is 12. Size 6 is not skinny, it is just slim because I used to be that. I just would've rathered her use a different reasoning for going through such a dangerous procedure than getting men interested because even if you get that procedure done, that is no guarantee that a man is going to fulfill your needs. People often seek love but if you don't love yourself, you will never gain it from someone else. Troy loved her before she went through the procedure and was upset to see her change because of people's view of her outside and not her heart as he so put it.

It was interesting to see Malik going for modeling auditions. I remember going to an audition for modeling one time and I decided to pass on it because the photography basically wanted to see me half naked. They told him to strip down to his swimming trunks and revealed his cut up chest and it was a beautiful site. But his attitude in this movie was like a model. A man that woman should look at but not approach because he was not a man who looked for substance just trying to get a bone.

It was also nice to see friends sitting down and enjoying their time together. It was a portrait that people can relate to and the theme was something that a lot of people deal with. Seeing it from a different perspective made it seem funny because a new day is just a new opportunity to do what you haven’t done yet. And seeing the familiar faces of Tracy Morgan, Allen Payne, Debbie DeSouza, Erika Alexander and Kadeem Hardison made the movie all more interesting. 30 Years To Life is another good movie full of laughter and approaching change and I liked it.

Recommended: Yes

Video Occasion: Better than Watching TV
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older