REWIND REVIEW: Undercover Brother
Thursday 07 June @ 14:01:20 |
 
by DWIGHT HOBBES
Director Malcolm D. Lee’s Undercover Brother (Universal/DVD), a savvy takeoff on the black action flicks of the 70s, is one of those go-to-the-bathroom-before-you-sit-down-or-you’re-apt-to-pee-on-yourself excursions into unbridled hilarity. And the beauty of it is that John Ridley’s writing works so well, if you never saw Shaft, Superfly or anything else from the 70s, you’ll still have a good time. Of course, if you were there back in the proverbial day, you’ll recognize where all the bits come from and find yourself, at some points, in uncontrollable hysterics.
Here’s what we’ve got. After years and years of social oppression and so forth, black America -- with a capital black – is about to be delivered by the Colin Powell-like Gen. Warren Boutwell (Billy Dee Williams. The Man (that’s actually the character’s name) goes into sinister, behind-the-scenes action to thwart black empowerment and keep the nation safe for white supremacy. His operatives slip the good general one helluva brainwashing mickey. At a press conference, televised coast-to-coast, where Boutwell is expected to announce his run for the presidency, he instead unveils a campaign to open a chain of fried chicken, fast-food restaurants. “Look out, Colonel”, he states with a straight face and picture-perfect smile, “here comes the General.”
The secret agency B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., dedicated to “truth, justice and the Afro-American way”, is not about to have any of this and enlists rogue hero Undercover Brother (Eddie Griffin) to work with their top agent, Sistah Girl (Aunjanue Ellis) and set the course of social progress back on the good foot. That’s when you need to hold on your seat, because the funk really hits the fan.
Eddie Griffin is sick, this we’ve always known. But he goes all the way to town in this role as the goofball secret agent who, despite himself, is quite effective at his job. Fellow Saturday Night Live alum Chris Kattan is fine as The Man’s ineffectual, top flunky, Mr. Feather, mining the character for every understated drop of humor it’s worth. Aunjanue Ellis (The Caveman’s Valentine, Ray) proves she’s just as good at comedy as she is at drama, giving Sistah Girl brass, sassafras and a world of a barely tolerant patience for the jackass with which she’s saddled as a partner. You couldn’t ask for better casting than Denise Richards as White She-Devil, the ace up The Man’s sleeve, sent in to seduce Undercover Brother with mayonnaise and Paul McCartney music. Chi McBride (Gone In 60 Seconds, Annapolis) chews the scenery as The Chief. And you love him for it. There’s also: Neil Patrick Harris (remember Doogie Howser) as Lance, the white man who wishes he was a brother; Dave Chappelle, who is just as sick as Griffin and plays the absolute hell out of Conspiracy Brother, the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. staffer who, for instance, swears up and down that George Washington Carver “invented the computer from a peanut”; and an enjoyable cameo by the late James Brown as himself.
The last flick along these lines was Kennen Ivory Wayan’s fall-out-on-the-floor hit I’m Gonna Get You Sucka, parodying “blaxploitation movies” to the side-splitting hilt. And, if you can get next to one, you’re sure going to love the other. It’s not recommended for cardiovascular well being, but those of you among the most daring might try watching Undercover Brother and I’m Gonna Get You Sucka back-to-back. In the event that you survive, be sure and still look behind you. Because you probably just laughed your ass off.
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