We’re about to discover whether “Get Out” and “The Carmichael Show” scene-stealer Lil Rey Howery is a star in his own right. The upcoming “Uncle Drew” stars Howerey as Dax, a down on his luck Harlem street ball fanatic. Dax sets out to defeat his street ball nemesis (Nick Kroll) with the help and tutelage of “old-timer” Uncle Drew (Kyrie Irving).
Encouraging is the fact that “Uncle Drew” is directed by Charles Stone III, whose delightful film “Step Sisters” was recently released on Netflix. (Seriously, make a point of seeing “Step Sisters.” It’s fun and really smart, and it will hopefully launch Megalyn Echikunwoke, who you may remember from Whit Stillman‘s great “Damsels in Distress,” into movie stardom.) Here’s the synopsis for “Uncle Drew:”
After draining his life savings to enter a team in the Rucker Classic street ball tournament in Harlem, Dax (Lil Rel Howery) is dealt a series of unfortunate setbacks, including losing his team to his longtime rival (Nick Kroll). Desperate to win the tournament and the cash prize, Dax stumbles upon the man, the myth, the legend UNCLE DREW (NBA All-Star Kyrie Irving) and convinces him to return to the court one more time. The two men embark on a road trip to round up Drew’s old basketball squad (Shaquille O’Neal, Chris Webber, Reggie Miller, Nate Robinson, and Lisa Leslie) and prove that a group of septuagenarians can still win the big one.
“Uncle Drew” opens on June 29th.