Chocolate Star

How far will people go for fame and fortune? Copeland's version of this hackneyed theme involves a trio of driven young African American ""chocolate stars,"" who come together as they pass through the crucible of spectacular success. Sean ""Sylk"" Ross, son of a Philadelphia preacher, has a solid foundation of family and religion when his basketball career ignites at the University of Pennsylvania. The stunning singer Topaz Black, daughter of a successful Atlanta businesswoman, was born manipulating people to do her bidding and keeps a running shopping list of exclusive brand names in her head. But she doesn't know her father's name or the circumstances of her birth until she's grown. Brilliant, hardworking movie producer/director Gunther Lawrence hates having grown up black and blue-collar in South Central L.A. On the hard scramble to the top, each faces temptations that offer shortcuts to success and the dubious promise of a cessation of emotional pain. Sylk finds that the Demerol prescribed for his injured knee works equally well, for a while, against the assault to his value system of sports groupies, a fickle press and jealous teammates. Gunther is snared by a combination of naivete, investment money of questionable legality and cocaine. Narcissistic Topaz quickly evolves into a stereotypical bitch star who discards a husband and child who might inconvenience her career. Copeland's prose, at best, is strictly by the numbers, and it's with a heavy hand that she touches all the requisite sociological bases in delineating her stars' diverse backgrounds. The result is a high-concept romance that never rises beyond undemanding fluff. (Aug.)