User Reviews

This is a relatively arty film at times, with Barrack and Michelle taking in an art exhibition and commenting about how coloured people were regarded by society at certain times. Tonally, its quite a subtle film but I liked that and it makes sense, given obviously the characters have no idea what is to become of them in future years (i.e. becoming US President and First Lady). Its a somewhat thoughtful film, which shows Barack's public speaking already being quite good, his ability to relate to others and to enthuse people to join a local cause and make a difference is depicted. I enjoyed this film and would recommend it to others.

i am no obama's fan but this movie is well written script and quite smart that it was condensed into 1 day, prequel to his successful historic campaign. the gist of his character and michelle's is cleverly introduced, keeping the tension of the romance tight. this show is appropriate because we aldy know what happened but the writer is so good to extract the history which may not be so well known to us. thank God the editing is very polished to keep it at a short 1 hr plus movie. the only thing that make me cringed from giving a 7 is the lady acting as michelle. i thought michelle is very articulate, friendly and joyful. the actress seemed like she had a short brain and so pompous. nauseating.

Beautiful movie. Acting, writing, direction, the music. All great. Short, sweet, simple, and profound. I would recommend this for a date night watch or a rainy sunday afternoon.

First date with a chocolate ice cream girl. A small film with a small success. It was entirely shot in the two weeks of time. Directed by a first timer, it tells the true story of Barack Obama and Michelle Robinson's first date back in the 1989 during working for a big law firm in Chicago. Like how Michelle denied it is a date as co-workers should not engage in a close relationship. While Obama is trying to win her heart, the film reveals their day, what they talk and do and how it all ends. This is not a biographical film I was expecting. I mean I was looking forward to the film, but not this kind of simple story. This looks like another version of 'Before Sunrise', and I won't be surprised if they make a sequel in a similar fashion, maybe a trilogy. So this is a one day event when they were young and passionate about their work, somewhat they both liked each other, though they knew their limits. The writer-come-director confirms all the events from his film really occurred, but not all of them in just one date. The actors were good, especially I liked Parker Sawyers as Barack Obama. For me, this is not a great film, but decently made one. Obama fans might like it, though you could try it if you like date film in a realistic manner. It's Obama's early life, so there's nothing about his present politics or the president post, except talking about their future plans. But most of the film about between them and their life, like how they grew how, what they love and loved, those kind of stuffs. So I hope you watch it with a low expectation. 6.5/10

What an interesting concept, make a movie about the President and First Lady's first date. While it was very informative about the formative early days of the Obama's, it was overly long. What should have been a great one hour TV show was stretched to 1 and a half hours.

After emerging from this very short movie, its idea of being a very talky movie sounded similar: A year ago, the movie Steve Jobs attempted the same idea with success. The dialogue in Steve Jobs gave plenty of insight into the character, and the plot, which followed Steve Jobs through three events, was not as much of a highlight as the story. But it definitely worked. Southside with You, though, is not Steve Jobs and wasn't as good either. It attempts to tell the true story of the fateful day Barack Obama shared with Michelle. Unfortunately, its idea didn't give enough insight into the characters, leaving them undeveloped. Even at 84 minutes, when it drags, you definitely feel it drag, and it happens a lot. Ultimately, this story is great on paper, but the idea the movie tried to adopt to tell its story didn't work in its favor. It is a disappointing product that warrants a seal of mediocrity.

This is a interpretation of the first date (that really wasn't a date) between Barack and Michelle. He an intern at a law firm where she has worked for 2 years and she is his boss in certain respects. It is simply a day together with 2 people gauging each other and you want to see how it proceeds. The paintings by Ernie Barnes in the museum scenes are works of true art.

The basic events fact, but the dialogue is an imagining of what happened when a young law firm associate named Barack Obama (Parker Sawyers) took his advisor (and future wife, played by Tika Sumpter) on a daylong date. They visit an art exhibit, go to a community organizing event, see a movie and eat ice cream. Sawyers' depiction of the future President is spot on: He's a smart, confident charmer. Sumpter feels less accurate, but she still manages to create a compelling character. While their chemistry is undeniable, the script's insistence on giving us too much bio background drags down the snappy personal dialogue. Two scenes (each designed to give one of them a star moment) are too long. Ultimately, there's lots of personality in this sweet, interesting look at a future first couple.

I'm surprised how much I liked this film Been let down with the 2nd Term of this President but this is a really interesting story. Great camera work, lighting, score and good acting particularly by the dude playing B O. Highly recommend this. Tells a great story, seems pretty true to life.

I wasn't sure I wanted to see "Southside with You," but a friend chose it for her birthday movie, and I must say, I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would.

Save your money. This film like the real thing is a big dud. I let a friend talk me into going and from the very start it was just simply stupid. I think America is ready for these two to move on.

This movie relies on affection for Obama which 50%+ of Americans don't have. There isn't anything here of interest without it. Film critics, and journalists in general, are 90% or so Democrats. And live in urban areas where media is mostly based. This film will serve as a certain type of porn for them. And unbiased critique however finds a dull movie across nearly every aspect of film making.

It was nice to see an old fashion, simple love story, without any twists or turns or 3rd party interference. The movie leaves you with a smile. I'd love to see a sequel, taking place 25 years later.

“Southside With You” is a movie only for romantics and/or a date night movie and I being in the former category loved it for many reasons starting with it has been awhile since Hollywood has made an understated love story that is sweet, touching, at times funny and is about two people we think we know. How true the events we see taking place are, how real the dialogue is or the imagination of the screenwriter really doesn’t matter as both feel real. We meet Michelle Robinson and Barack Obama as they get ready for him to pick her up and take her to a meeting that she is interested in. Almost from the beginning of the film to the end she insists it is not a ‘date’ though it seems to be just that as he had picked her up way too early to go to the meeting and instead suggests they go see an art exhibit. Michelle feels it would be wrong to go on a date with a summer intern at the firm where she is his adviser. We spend the day and evening with them as they walk, talk, have a sandwich in the park, go to that art exhibit, eventually go to the meeting which makes her look at him in a different light and go for a couple of drinks and then to see Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing”. Along the way they find out both little things—she doesn’t like pie but does like chocolate ice cream—and big things—his 2 year affair with a white woman—and watch them fall in love as they question each other, and themselves, as to who they are. They have serious moments as she explains the double whammy of being a lawyer who is Black and a woman in a predominately white male run organization and he judges her wrongly only to find out how strong she is really. That we know who they are and how the day will end adds an underlying ‘feel good’ layer to the story. The director and screen writer Richard Tanne keeps the movie and talk on the right level of two very smart, educated, goal oriented people falling in love and letting the audience come along for the ride. I was not familiar with Parker Sawyers who plays Barack but I walked out of the theatre being impressed with him. Tika Sumpter, playing Michelle, is another story!! I have watched, and hated, her in Tyler Perry’s “The Have and Have Nots” as a conniving, blackmailing, assertive **** and it took me a few minutes to forget that character and accept her in the role that she plays to perfection in “Southside With You”. Also I love learning things from going to the movies and aside from a few bits about the two leading characters I was overwhelmed by the art work of Eddie Barnes not being familiar with his name and/or work. Be sure to stay for all the end credits to see some of his work, in addition to those paintings they show at the art exhibit. I definitely plan to do research on the artist. The opening song of the movie sort of threw me as being too jarring for a love story but that soon faded out and the later music was perfect. For the wrong reason many people won’t be going to see this movie which will only be their missing a smart romantic story of two people falling in love, no matter what their names are!

Two charming performances (this guy looks and sounds just like Obama, it's incredible) and fun, smart dialogue make this a pretty enjoyable little movie, even if some of the editing is awkward and a few scenes drag on for way too long.