Director Sanaa Hamri, makes her directorial debut with the film Something New, which delivers just that.

The film follows the story of Kenya McQueen, played by Sanaa Lathan (Love & Basketball), a successful businesswoman in an all-white firm, a bit of a workaholic and ever so slightly anal-retentive with not only multiple to-do lists, but don't-do lists as well.

After another Valentine's Day spent working late, she gathers with her friends to make a pact to be more open when it comes to love, developing the mantra, "Let Go, Let Flow."

Kenya's got a laundry list of what she's looking for in her IBM (ideal black man) but follows her friend's advice and goes on a blind date. She meets Brian Kelly, played by Aussie Simon Baker, a dreamy, easy going landscape architect who's not exactly the black knight in shining armor she was looking for. She blows him off instantly and thinks she'll never see him again.

Alas their paths cross again and this time she ends up with Brian as her new gardener to renovate the nuclear fall-out that is her backyard.

As they spend more time together, he gets her to let her guard down. He sees something in herself that she can't and takes her out of her sterile environment.

Her brother played by always-hilarious Donald Faison, from Scrubs, sees a potential relationship between them and accuses her of "sneaking off to the O.C.," implying he doesn't approve of their interracial romance.

Despite their chemistry, Brian can tell Kenya is hesitant to start something with a white guy and calls her out on her prejudice.

As her garden blooms so does their connection as he transforms her garden into Eden. He meets all of her criteria for a perfect man except for the whole "white thing" Instead of her finding her IBM, she falls for the Brawny man, minus the flannel shirt but good with his hands.

It's obvious from the very beginning that this film deals with the aspects of interracial dating, pointing out prejudices on both side of the color line and the script does a good job of not shying away from these issues like other films have done.

Such misfires include Guess Who, with Bernie Mac and Ashton Kutcher, that dodges the controversy and opts for the cheap laughs

While getting flak from family and friends, Kenya can't catch a break at work either where she has to work twice as hard when her clients question her skills, otherwise known as the "black tax".

Seeing Brian has more of the "help" than a potential suitor, her family sets her up with the motherload of all IBM's -- Mark, played by Blair Underwood (Sex and the City).

Mark is just another step on the road to marriage, children and a 401 K plan, which Kenya's mother wants her to take. Alfre Woodward (Desperate Housewives) plays the pushy matchmaking mother with an agenda and does a convincing job of making you want to slap her.

After Kenya and Brian hit the wall when he gets tired of talking about race all the time, everything with Blair is like butter.

However, like so many things in life, sometimes what you think you want, isn't what you really need. After breaking the glass ceiling at work, she realizes that what she wants is more important than people's perception of her relationship.

From the writer of Living Single, Kriss Turner, Something New has a clever script, brimming with great one-liners, and despite being a romantic comedy, it addresses the issues at hand.

Lathan proves once again that she can support a movie in another superb and heartfelt performance. The only drawback from her career is that she runs the risk of being typecast, always playing the strong black women, aloof and hesitant when it comes to love.

Despite a few cheesy moments, I wouldn't necessarily clump this film the chick flick pile.

Although Valentine's Day may be over, there's still time to enjoy a romantic flick, and you may learn something in the process.

Grade: B