Set in the mid-80s and told primarily in flashback, Paid tells the story of Ace (Wood Harris), who puts in his time at a local laundromat, working honestly to make ends meet, though barely, while his friend Mitch (Mekhi Phifer) never sweats but drives fast cars and is king of Harlem because of his drug dealing ways. Ace is able to resist the temptation of the high life until he delivers laundry to a big time coke dealer, Lulu (Esai Morales). Lulu seduces Ace into the lifestyle, and Ace is soon selling cocaine throughout the neighborhood. Mitch does a short stint in prison and by the time he's released, Ace is all but running the streets.

Although Phifer puts in a stunning performance, he is upstaged by Harris who plays the almost-naive young man turned ghetto superstar to perfection. Harris's character truly develops on screen as he breathes reality into what could've been a hollow, carbon copy of any other Hollywood drug dealer. And it's the relationship between the two friends that keeps this film afloat and maintains a degree of freshness in what for all intents and purposes has been seen before.

Paid also marks the debut of rapper turned actor Cam'ron, who puts in a surprising performance as Rico, the bad boy of the group. Although he's obviously the guy you're supposed to hate, it's hard not to fall for his energy and charisma. He may not be the guy you're rooting for, but his presence really energizes the screen, and is offset nicely by the other two key players.

The story starts off a little slow, but in the end, it's the pace that enhances the experience. Nothing's rushed. Instead, characters develop in their own way as the story unwinds, which is exactly what this type of film needs to work.

However, despite caring for the characters, I was never truly tied to them emotionally. I was never totally concerned about whether or not their lives as drug pushers would come to a messy end. Perhaps that's because films like this are so formulaic: the first half praises the lifestyle, the second half shuns it. Luckily, Paid doesn't go overboard on either aspect. It doesn't amplify the joys but it doesn't preach, either. Instead, it simply flows, allowing the characters to control the film's pace instead of force feeding audiences with unnecessary morals that we've heard too many times before.

If Paid in Full is any indication, Stone has a long future in Hollywood, as do the members of the cast.

THE VIDEO
The film is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen. For the most part, colors are bright and the image is sharp, particularly during outdoor and well-lit scenes. However, many of the darker scenes appear overly grainy. Throughout the film, shadows become voids where entire sections of the scene are lost in black. The low production budget appears to be the culprit on this one, but in many instances, this adds credibility to the gritty realism of the film. At the same time, it's jarring a time or two when a bright, very detailed scene cuts to a darker, too-shadowed scene.

All in all, I'd say that video quality is a mixed bag on this one.

THE AUDIO
Paid in Full is featured in 5.1 Digital Sound, but because the film is dialog heavy, don't expect this disc to give your system a workout. For the most part, the rear channels are relegated to ambiance only, and the woofer, surprisingly, is rarely used to its full potential.

The only drawback to the sound on this disc can be found in the few club scenes. Instead of the bass heavy, crisp sound I was expecting, the music in the dance halls is tinny with too little bass. This is in no way a major issue, but certain music styles all but beg for enough boom to make the windows rattle.

THE BONUS FEATURES
Dimension Films dropped the ball on this one, since the only extra feature worth mentioning on the Paid in Full DVD is the screen-specific director's commentary. Stone gives some detailed behind-the-scenes information on the making of the film, but the entire commentary is a bit dry. It would've been nice to have another voice on the track (perhaps the screenwriters or an actor) just to keep it more lively. As it is, the track is almost too screen specific because Stone never strays too far from discussing what's on screen. The commentary could possibly be a great learning tool for film students, but it doesn't earn many points for entertainment value.

The disc also features seven previews for other Dimension films that are less apt to promote the DVDs and more likely to keep viewers from renting these stinkers.

It should also be noted that the menus are static and boring, without even a bit of music to spice them up. It would've been nice to hear Erik B. & Rakim's "Paid in Full" over the menu, but perhaps that's asking a bit much considering the lack of bonus materials.

FINAL THOUGHTS
Paid in Full may start somewhat slow, but it builds nicely and develops into a good gangsta movie that doesn't spill too far into your typical anti-drug/anti-dealer territory. The actors put forth some extraordinary performances that really help the reality of the film shine through. Based on the film alone, I'd have no problem recommending this DVD. As it is, the addition of only a director's commentary all but forces me to advise readers to rent it first.