Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison – Review/ Summary with Spoilers

If you ever wanted to hear old head logic, mixed in with some of the best one-lines, “Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison” has what you need.

---

Director(s)	Romany Malco Jr.
Screenplay By	Romany Malco Jr.
Date Released (Digital)	7/31/2020
Genre(s)	Comedy
Duration	1 Hour, 36 Minutes
Rating	Not Rated
Noted Cast
Tijuana Jackson (TJ)	Romany Malco Jr.
Momma Jackson	Lyne Odums
Cheryl	Regina Hall
Rachel	Shannon Dang
Sharea	Tami Roman
Lil’ Eric	Alkoya Brunson
Justin	Tyler Cassidy

This content contains pertinent spoilers.

Plot Summary

Tijuana Jackson has been in and out of prison since he was a kid, and through that experience, he has developed “Prison Logic.” An idea that goes beyond street knowledge but pushes you to question, are you learning something or memorizing? Are you giving assembly responses or human responses?

But, while Tijuana has a mixtape, a book, and loads of ideas, being an ex-con who has to work a day job, help his momma, and look after his nephew, it slows the dream down. Add in his parole officer Cheryl, a high school friend who tries to give him some leeway, TJ takes an inch and tries to make it a mile. The only difference this time is a young filmmaker named Rachel, and her cameraman Justin, they come along for his latest stretch of freedom.

Review

Highlights

Cheryl and Sharea

While Romany Malco Jr. is the star, Regina Hall and Tami Roman steal the movie. Sharea purely through one lines as she clowns and diminishes TJ at nearly every chance she gets. Then with Cheryl, it’s classic Regina Hall. She has this way about her, specifically how you see her code-switch in most of her movies, that has been hilarious since “Scary Movie,” and likely before that film. That is fully on display as she goes from trying to be real and give TJ some tough love to when she yelling out the window to say hi to someone she knows.

And mind you, both women do more than joke around either with TJ or at his expense. They also remind you how much it hurts to see someone with potential end up a disappointment. Especially when given so many chances to do better but they are so stubborn that you sometimes aren’t sure whether you should get off the wheel or think they’ll do better this time. Thus giving you a sense of fatigue as your own hopes for TJ sway from thinking he’ll make it to understanding why he ends up in jail over some dumb s***.

Old Head Logic At Its Best

Whether you want to call it prison logic, hood logic, the logic of old heads, or another name, there is a need to admit that some of the lines in the movie may get you thinking. I even had to rewind a few times to think about the things said. For depending on where you are in life and what’s you’re doing, you may feel taken aback by what TJ, or Lil’ Eric, spit.

Lil Eric’s Role

Speaking of Lil’ Eric, just as Cheryl and Sharea present you the opportunity to see adults dealing with another adult letting them down, Lil Eric’ gives a child’s perspective. Mind you, he isn’t TJ’s son, but his nephew, but as the father figure and male figure, in his life, you can see and understand the devastation. Making it so, as much as Momma Jackson’s worry for her son may hit you, it is Lil’ Eric losing time with his uncle, and not feeling reciprocity when it comes to love and time that may get you in your feelings a bit.

TJ’s Dynamic With Rachel & Justin

Being that this is supposed to be a mockumentary, there is a lot of communication between TJ and Rachel, with Justin making the occasional appearance. However, the back and forth between TJ and Rachel, it’s hilarious. Particularly when Rachel pushes back against TJ’s ignorance or when he lays a line on her that really gets her thinking.

It’s in those moments that you’re reminded how, what can be called street smarts, has value, and everything can’t necessarily be obtained from a classroom environment. For even with TJ clearly lacking common sense in some areas, through Rachel, you see there is value in his way of thinking and how he lives his life. It’s just, between wanting a shortcut or fearing the dream could die while he is trying to survive reality, TJ does some really idiotic things.

Overall Rating

Would Watch Again? – Worth Revisiting

Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing) – Recommended

“Tijuana Jackson: Purpose Over Prison” could be a cult classic. It feels like the kind of movie that, similar to “Malibu’s Most Wanted,” amongst other movies, you can imagine a network, Comedy Central, whichever, playing on repeat. For while by no means horrible, it has this eccentric appeal to it due to TJ’s personality, and the type of characters in the movie. Then when you add in the one-liners, be them funny or philosophical, it begins to become quotable, and something you may not just want to watch one single time.

Where To Watch