Line #68 Film/JasonsLyric


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jasons_lyric.jpg]]
2	A 1994 American erotic romantic psychological drama directed by Creator/DougMcHenry that has two very different brothers (Creator/AllenPayne and Creator/BokeemWoodbine) struggling to survive in the violent ghetto world on two very different paths. Things start to get complicated when the good brother falls for a high-spirited woman (Creator/JadaPinkett).
3
4	The movie also stars Creator/AnthonyCriss, Creator/EddieGriffin, Creator/SuzzanneDouglas, Creator/LisaNicoleCarson, Creator/ForestWhitaker, Creator/LahmardJTate, and Creator/RushionMcDonald.
5
6	It was released on September 28, 1994.
7	----
8	!!Tropes for the film:
9	* AccidentalMurder:
10	** [[spoiler:Jason fatally shot his abusive father, Mad Dog, when he intended to stop his old man from potentially killing his mom, Gloria.]] Thus leaving him a [[HeroicBSoD lifetime haunting guilt]] which becomes a major problem that gets in the way of his relationship with Lyric, besides his brother, Joshua, that is.
11	** Later in the climax, while in the middle of a heated argument, Joshua shoots Lyric in the shoulder until she's knocked unconscious. Joshua claims that he didn't mean to actually kill her, he just wanted to use her as a bait to lure Alonzo, his former accomplice and Lyric's brother. [[spoiler:Thankfully, Lyric miraculously survives]].
12	* AlliterativeFamily: The two brothers' names are Jason and Joshua.
13	* AnimalMetaphor: When the titular characters travel to the bayou, two swans are seen on the lake nearby. Not long after the close-up of the two swans, Jason and Lyric start kissing, followed by making passionate love. A swan is widely known as a symbol of love in that it represents a couple who have just found love in each other.
14	* BetaCouple: Lyric's older brother, Alonzo "A-1", and her co-worker as well as best friend, Marti, are the beta to Jason and Lyric's alpha.
15	* BigBrotherInstinct: Jason spends his youth looking out for his troubled younger brother, Joshua (despite his awareness that Joshua is [[AllTakeAndNoGive taking advantage of his good heart]]). When he knows that Joshua would always need him, he almost gives up his chance to be with Lyric. [[spoiler: Eventually though, Jason gives up on Joshua when he finds out that his brother has become insufferably unbearable and self-serving to the point of almost endangering his girlfriend's life that he chooses to walk away from him and moves on with her]].
16	* BigHeroicRun: By the time his friend, Rat, informs him that his brother, Joshua, is going to kill his girlfriend, Lyric, and her brother, Alonzo, Jason immediately rushes to her house. After their car is stopped by an oncoming train, Jason decides to get out of his car, run across the tracks in front of the speeding train and race up to save her. [[spoiler:Despite Joshua (accidentally) shooting Lyric, she luckily survives after Jason immediately takes her to the ambulance.]]
17	* BirdsOfAFeather: Jason and Lyric have a lot in common; having a toxic/troubled sibling and dreams to run away for a better life. Though Lyric has always been aware of what she has always wanted, and on the contrary it takes a while for Jason to realize his deepest desire to be free and happy.
18	* BookEnds: Begins and ends with Jason riding on a bus and wearing an orange shirt, only with a difference; in the beginning he rides alone, in the end [[spoiler:he rides with Lyric by his side]].
19	* BridalCarry: Jason tearfully carries the injured and unconscious Lyric outside of her home and takes her to the ambulance after Joshua (accidentally) shot her.
20	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Jason often wears between [[BlueAndOrangeMorality blue or orange]]; signifying his [[GoodIsNotSoft gentle-but-tough]] demeanor. Lyric often wears white; reflecting her innocence, dreamy and nurturing traits.
21	* ConflictingLoyalty: The primary theme. Jason is TheDutifulSon who used to be a [[PromotedToParent breadwinner to his family]] [[spoiler:following his father's murder]] and vows to prioritize their well-beings above his, particularly his troubled younger brother, Joshua. However, when he finds love in [[LoveInterest Lyric]], he starts to feel torn between his family or his wish to be with her. Upon learning how far Joshua is willing to go, he eventually leaves his brother for good and chooses to be with Lyric.
22	* ContrivedCoincidence: On their first meeting, after buying a TV from Jason's workplace and Jason asks her out, Lyric says to him, "if it's meant to be, you'll find me". Later, when looking for a restaurant for dinner, Jason and his friend happen to choose Lyric's workplace. Cue, Jason sees her again, pursues her and convinces her that [[FateDrivesUsTogether they are meant to be]].
23	* DanceOfRomance: The titular characters slow dance after having a mock picnic in an abandoned bus station followed by a [[TwirlOfLove twirl hug]].
24	* DefrostingIceQueen: Lyric initially rejected Jason's attempts to get close to her before eventually warms up to him and returns his feelings.
25	-->'''Jason''': Beautiful night, ain't it?\
26	'''Lyric''': ''(Rolling her eyes)'' Magical.\
27	'''Jason''': Damn, you're ''cold''! Were you always this difficult?\
28	'''Lyric''': Can't you find somebody else to harass?\
29	'''Jason''': Harass? I thought I was being charming.\
30	'''Lyric''': Wrong!
31	* DeskSweepOfPassion: In the second sex scene in the electronic shop, Jason is seen sweeping off everything from the counter to put Lyric on and consummate their passion.
32	* DoesNotLikeMen: Lyric was initially hinted to dislike men. Understandable, since she grew up in a ghetto life with a gangster older brother, Alonzo "A-1". She even mistakes Jason's attempt to charm her as harassment before she eventually warms up to him.
33	* DrivenToSuicide: The {{Jerkass}} younger brother, Joshua, is used to relying on his older brother, Jason, for almost everything (including avoiding the consequences of his wrongdoings) and grows jealous when finding out Jason's plan to move away with Lyric. So much so that he ends up [[spoiler:shooting himself upon watching his dear older brother finally walking away from him for good (after putting up with him for so many years) and choosing to save his girlfriend after Joshua (accidentally) shot her]].
34	* EarnYourHappyEnding / MovingAwayEnding: Jason has gone through a lot since childhood; growing up in a violent ghetto neighborhood, witnessing his used-to-be-loving father turned abusive toward them, especially his mother, that [[spoiler: results in him killing his old man to protect her.]] As an adult, he spends his youth looking out for his family, particularly [[AllTakeAndNoGive putting up with]] his troubled younger brother, Joshua. His girlfriend, Lyric, has a similar story; growing up with a gangster older brother, Alonzo "A-1", and [[InvisibleParents no parents]], prompting her to dream of an escape as she longs for a peaceful life. Ultimately, when Joshua (accidentally) shoots Lyric out of jealousy in the climax, Jason [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere finally brings himself to turn his back on his brother and chooses to save her]], after feeling torn between his love for his family or his girlfriend for so long. In the end, after earning his mom's blessing for his wish to be together with Lyric and leave his past behind, Jason and Lyric eventually gain their mutual wish; [[spoiler:riding on a bus together to escape town and start a new life]].
35	* EmpathicEnvironment: The infamous sex scene. When the titular characters start having sex in the bayou, they roll over on a grassy ground. As they're getting intense, the ground magically turns into a flower field; reflecting their blooming love and unbridled passion (before it turns back to grassy again, while they keep going until the sun sets).
36	* EpunymousTitle: About a man named Jason who falls in love with a woman named Lyric.
37	* FallingInLoveMontage: The titular characters' romantic dates montage are; having a mock picnic followed by [[DanceOfRomance slow dancing]] and a [[TwirlOfLove twirl hug]] in an abandoned bus station, traveling to a secluded bayou; [[PiggybackCute piggyback riding]], [[OldFashionedRowboatDate rowing a rowboat]], and savoring their newly found love until they end up having passionate sex in [[EmpathicEnvironment the woods that magically turns into a flower field]]. And later, they go on a date in the carnival.
38	* FingerMuzzle: Upon bringing Lyric home after hanging out together, Jason asks Lyric when can he see her again. She immediately shut him up by doing this to him and challenges him to surprise her.
39	* FlashBackNightmare: Jason constantly has flashbacks of the night he [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder fatally shot]] his AbusiveDad, when he intended to stop the man from potentially killing him and his mother.]] This causes him to put up with his troubled younger brother, Joshua, for years as he feels guilty for [[spoiler:making Joshua witness his dad's murder with his very own eyes.]] Thus, this nightmare also becomes a major problem that gets in the way of his relationship with Lyric.
40	* FlippingTheTable: When Joshua makes dinner and his mom refuses to eat because it's bought with drug money, he furiously flips the dining table.
41	* FlowersOfRomance: Jason buys a rose bouquet randomly from strangers and gives it to Lyric when he follows her home.
42	* FoolishSiblingResponsibleSibling / SiblingYinYang: It's the main plot point, besides the love story. Jason is the serious, responsible and dutiful son, while Joshua is the [[HotBlooded short-tempered]] and troublemaker son to their mom, Gloria.
43	* GoodIsNotSoft: The main character, Jason, is basically a good man and very protective toward his family. But when his troublemaker younger brother, Joshua, drunkenly harasses his girlfriend, Lyric, he doesn't hesitate to punch him. Later, Jason also dares to get into a vicious fight with Lyric's gangster brother, Alonzo "A-1", as a revenge for having tortured Joshua.
44	* GrandRomanticGesture: Jason intends to win Lyric's heart by taking her on a date, borrowing a city bus for themselves and setting up a mock picnic in an abandoned bus station. Later, he takes her to a secluded bayou before eventually kissing and making love to her in the woods.
45	* HeroicBSOD: Jason blames himself for [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder accidentally killing]] his father]] that he keeps protecting his troubled brother, Joshua (despite his awareness that his brother is always taking him for granted), at the expense of his happiness with [[LoveInterest Lyric]], out of fear of losing another family member. Later, when Lyric convinces him that it wasn't his fault and he earns his mom's blessing for his wish to be with Lyric, he eventually come to terms with his past and [[spoiler:chooses to leave Joshua for good to start a better life with Lyric.]]
46	* HumbleGoal: All Lyric wants is to run away to any place where she can have a peaceful life.
47	* IfICantHaveYou: Non-romantic example. Joshua is so used to always relying on his older brother, Jason, in almost everything (including avoiding the consequences of his wrongdoings) that he grows jealous upon finding out Jason wants to move away with his girlfriend, Lyric. Disgruntled, Joshua [[spoiler: nearly kills Lyric (despite his real target being her older brother, Alonzo) in order to keep Jason from leaving him. Nevertheless, his mission fails as Jason finally chooses Lyric over him, albeit his plea]].
48	* IgnoreTheFanservice: When entering the restaurant where [[LoveInterest Lyric]] works at, Lyric's vain co-worker with a heaving buxom, Marti, welcomes Jason and his friend, Rat, in a seductive manner. But Jason is oblivious as he is immediately distracted by Lyric's beauty.
49	* ItsAllMyFault: Jason spends almost the entire film blaming himself for [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder accidentally murdering]] his abusive father]] and feels responsible for indirectly causing his brother, Joshua, to grow up into a volatile and criminal-minded man [[spoiler:as the latter watched his father die at his brother's hand.]] Jason even almost unwillingly gives up on Lyric, out of misguided brotherly/familial love. [[spoiler:But after Lyric convinces him that it wasn't all his fault and his mom gives her blessing for their relationship, Jason decides to leave his past behind and moves on with his girlfriend.]]
50	* KnightTemplarBigBrother: Jason confronts and gets into a vicious fight with his girlfriend Lyric's brother, Alonzo "A-1", upon learning the latter savagely tortured his younger brother, Joshua, for messing up a BankRobbery.
51	* LikeFatherLikeSon: Jason's younger brother, Joshua, turns out to be just like their deceased father, Mad Dog; volatile, alcoholic and bound for a violent end.
52	* LoveAtFirstSight: Jason is instantly smitten with Lyric from the moment he sees her at their first meeting. On the contrary, it takes a while for her to realize his sincerity.
53	* MakingLoveInAllTheWrongPlaces: The titular characters, Jason and Lyric, have sex in [[EmpathicEnvironment the woods that magically turns into a flower field]]. Later, they have sex again on the counter in Jason's workplace and reconcile after a brief argument.
54	* ManlyTears:
55	** Jason bursts into tears when he opens up to Lyric about his tragic past: [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder he accidentally killed]] his abusive dad, Mad Dog,]] which explains why he feels obligated to his family (particularly his troubled brother, Joshua) and almost gives up their relationship. Later, he cries again while watching his family pictures through the slide projector, in memory of his dad.
56	** In the climax, Jason breaks into sobs upon watching in horror as his girlfriend is shot (by accident) by his own younger brother. He weeps over Lyric's unconscious body while reminding her about their plan to escape town together, then carries her injured body outside, albeit Joshua's apology and plea to not give up on him.
57	* MonochromeCasting: All of the film casts are Black, including the figures in the background.
58	* MoodWhiplash: The beginning is about a broken family and its impacts. Second, it shifts the focus to the romance of the titular characters. Near the end, it becomes frightening with crime and violence.
59	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Joshua is genuinely shocked after he almost fatally shoots Jason's girlfriend, Lyric, despite initially attempting to do so to prevent his brother from leaving him. [[spoiler:To rub salt into his wound, this becomes the last straw that eventually makes Jason no longer care about him, and he instead chooses to save his girlfriend and walk out on Joshua for good.]]
60	* MyGreatestFailure: Jason spent all his life blaming himself for [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder accidentally killing]] his father]], prompting him to keep protecting and saving his troubled criminal brother, Joshua, and almost sacrifice his happiness with [[LoveInterest Lyric]]. [[spoiler:But in the end, he chooses his girlfriend over his brother after she almost dies at Joshua's hand (by accident) and he earns his mom's blessing for their relationship.]]
61	%%* OfficialCouple: Guess who?
62	* PleaseWakeUp: After his girlfriend, Lyric, is rendered unconscious after being (accidentally) shot by his brother, Jason tearfully pleads her to stay strong by reminding her about their plan to escape town together (after he initially called it off, out of brotherly love). [[spoiler:Thankfully, Lyric miraculously survives as she and Jason are seen riding on a bus together in the end.]]
63	-->'''Jason:''' Lyric... Lyric... I'm ready to go... Come on, you need to get up... You gotta get up 'cause we gotta go. Come on.
64	* PoliceAreUseless: In This Is It restaurant scene, the guard standing by the door doesn’t do anything when Alonzo makes a mess by throwing trays of food.
65	* SeriousBusiness: While planning a BankRobbery, Joshua boasts that robbery is like going shopping. Then his chief accomplice, Alonzo "A-1", immediately points his gun to Joshua's temple, warning him to not underestimate it. As later seen, when Joshua botches the plan due to coming late, Alonzo "A-1" and his accomplice viciously torture Joshua.
66	* SingleWomanSeeksGoodMan: Lyric initially seems to believe that all men are jerks like her gangster older brother, Alonzo "A-1", until she eventually falls for the [[NiceGuy good guy]], Jason.
67	* SpotlightStealingSquad: The movie was supposed to focus more on the title characters' love story. However, the two brothers' complicated relationship compellingly dominates the plot.
68	* StalkingIsLove: Jason follows Lyric from the restaurant where she works at to her home, because he's determined to get to know more about her.
69	* TearsOfFear: In the climax, Lyric breaks down into tears when she's cornered and held at gunpoint by Jason's {{Jerkass}} younger brother, Joshua.
70	* TraumaCongaLine: Jason witnessed his used-to-be-loving father, Mad Dog, turn abusive after coming home from Vietnam as a traumatized veteran having lost his leg. Later, he [[spoiler:[[AccidentalMurder accidentally killed]] Mad Dog when trying to stop his old man from potentially killing him and his mother.]] In adulthood, his younger brother, Joshua, becomes volatile and criminal-minded, but Jason has to put up with him as he [[spoiler:feels guilty for killing their dad in front of Joshua and wants to look out for him.]] When he could finally bring himself to walk away from Joshua for good while carrying the unconscious Lyric to safety after his brother shot her out of jealousy, Joshua decides to [[spoiler:[[DrivenToSuicide shoot himself]] out of despair]]. Thus, Jason must lose another family member to a gunshot.
71	* TroubledBackstoryFlashback: Jason is still haunted by the nightmares of the night his father was shot dead, as he also recalls the times when his father used to be a [[FamilyMan loving father and husband]] before turning abusive after coming home from the Vietnam War as a ShellShockedVeteran. [[spoiler:Later, it is revealed that it was Jason himself who [[AccidentalMurder accidentally shot him]] when he tried to stop his father from potentially killing him, his mother, and his brother when the man came home drunk and attacked them.]]
72	* TwirlOfLove: Jason twirls Lyric while [[DanceOfRomance slow dancing]] on their first date in an abandoned bus station and later, on their second date in the bayou.
73	* UptightLovesWild: Jason is a responsible man who's spent his youth taking care of his family [[spoiler:following his father's death]] that he was thought to be too busy to enjoy life or even just relax until he meets and falls in love with the free-spirited and dreamy-yet-adventurous Lyric. Lyric teaches him that life is more than just taking care of a DysfunctionalFamily and reminds him about his own right to be happy and free, while Jason persistently proves to her that not all men are jerks.

Context Film / JasonsLyric