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Eddie
Griffin, Aunjanue Ellis, Dave Chappelle, Denise Richards,
Chris Kattan |
Directed
by: Malcolm D. Lee
Written by: John Ridley, Michael McCullers, Salanini
Patterson
Produced by: Brian Grazer, Michael Jenkinson, Damon
Lee |
US:
31/05/02
UK: 14/02/03 |
Yo
mama... Undercover Brother is a live-action comedy based
on Urban Media's popular website series. Blasted from
the past and ready to take care of business, Undercover
Brother is recruited to infiltrate a sinister underground
movement headed by The Man. Partnered with the sassy,
stunning Sistah Girl (Aunjanue Ellis), our hero must
first undergo the ultimate attitude adjustment and trade
in his 'fro and platforms for tennis sweaters and penny
loafers. Once the transformation is complete, he's ready
to take on the evil perpetrators of Operation Whitewash
- Mr. Feather (Chris Kattan), Penelope Snow aka White
She Devil (Denise Richards) and ultimately, The Man.
Get ready for action in the affirmative. Ya dig? |
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This wacky spoof pokes fun at both 1970s blaxploitation movies and the
spy-caper genre in general. With mixed results. Undercover Brother
(Griffin), UB for short, is a activist in present day L.A., trying to
keep alive funky '70s values in a corporate cutthroat society, driving
around in his vintage Cadillac convertible with his mammoth afro blowing
in the wind. Then he's drafted by the top secret Brotherhood spy agency
to help in their continued battle against The Man, who's determined to
destroy the black way of life. UB's new fellow agents include the foxy
Sistah Girl (Ellis), a conspiracy-obsessed brother (Chappelle), a smart
Q type genius (Gary Anthony Williams), the gruff and always shouting
Chief (McBride) and their white-boy intern (Harris). But as he battles
with The Man's henchman Feather (Kattan), UB is unprepared for the
ultimate secret weapon, Penelope Snow (Richards), aka 'the black man's
Kryptonite.'
Yes, it's very, very silly, and most of the film is so stupid that it's
actually painful to watch. But just when you start to worry about your
sanity, a moment of absolute genius flits across the screen--a
throwaway line, a witty sight gag, an astute bit of satire, another
inspired piece of music. These things are so smart and snappy that it
makes you wonder why the rest of the film feels like mush, held
together with a plot so lame that even the Zucker brothers would have
passed on it. The cast is fine--physical and energetic, with perfect
timing ... although some of the actors play it much hammier than others
(Griffin is the prime offender here). The film works best when it's
playing with stereotypes, poking fun at pop culture icons or
hilariously highlighting prejudices. But when it resorts to broad and
zany comedy, it falls flat.
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