It has been a while since a comedy left my stomach AND my sides aching, not to mention my "remote finger", from having to hit "Rewind" so many times. What AIRPLANE! is to the disaster genre, BLACK DYNAMITE does it double for the world of 'blaxploitation' films. And personally, I think that BD completes its mission even more successfully, because there is so much going on in virtually every scene, that this demands several more viewings before you catch all the sight gags, double-entendres and intentionally bad dialogue AND acting.
Hatched from the twisted minds of director Scott Sanders, actor/writer Byron Minns and most significantly, actor/writer/stunt performer Michael Jai White - "BLACK DYNAMITE hizself!" - this is the jam-packed, titty-stacked, pimp-smacked tale of what happens when BD's wayward brother, Reggie, is murdered in cold blood by "Da Man!" It only LOOKS like a hit done by fellow drug dealers, but it's up to Our Hero to find out who is flooding the ghetto streets with junk and malt liquor that makes you go "Woooooooo!", save the kids from a life of drugs and violence, avenge his brother's murder and take down "Da Man" - who, of course, we know is behind it all.
The most remarkable thing about this note-perfect satire is that it gets everything RIGHT. The art direction, period cars, Ruth Carter's incredible costume designs and most especially Adrian Younge's hysterically funny and funky soundtrack...If you are a staunch fan of this genre, you will be able to pick out 'nudge-wink' homages to everything from THE HUMAN TORNADO, BLACK BELT JONES and SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF,to iconic films like SHAFT, SUPERFLY and THE MACK. Like the best parodies, you have to know and deeply love the genre you're spoofing very well to pull it off successfully, and just like Rob Reiner (THIS IS SPINAL TAP), the Monty Python crew and Team ZAZ with the aforementioned AIRPLANE, these cats "know they s***!!"
And very much in the tradition of the movies they are lovingly sending up, the cast is a who's-who of black acting talent of every stripe. Seriously, WHEN was the last time you saw Arsenio Hall and Tommy Davidson? (Who prove here that they can also still be hysterically funny with the right stuff to work with!)
It makes me feel that that there is no cinematic justice that this movie wasn't better promoted and distributed, but like some of the world's best cult films, it will be destined to find a steadily growing and enthusiastic home audience, thanks to the magic of DVD and Blu-Ray. (Which reminds me - this needs a "Special Edition" release ASAP! The Blu-Ray is criminally void of the kind of BTS extras a movie like this deserves.)
If you are in the mood for a really good laugh, BLACK DYNAMITE will deliver the kind of satisfaction that will "put yo' ass in traction!"
Hatched from the twisted minds of director Scott Sanders, actor/writer Byron Minns and most significantly, actor/writer/stunt performer Michael Jai White - "BLACK DYNAMITE hizself!" - this is the jam-packed, titty-stacked, pimp-smacked tale of what happens when BD's wayward brother, Reggie, is murdered in cold blood by "Da Man!" It only LOOKS like a hit done by fellow drug dealers, but it's up to Our Hero to find out who is flooding the ghetto streets with junk and malt liquor that makes you go "Woooooooo!", save the kids from a life of drugs and violence, avenge his brother's murder and take down "Da Man" - who, of course, we know is behind it all.
The most remarkable thing about this note-perfect satire is that it gets everything RIGHT. The art direction, period cars, Ruth Carter's incredible costume designs and most especially Adrian Younge's hysterically funny and funky soundtrack...If you are a staunch fan of this genre, you will be able to pick out 'nudge-wink' homages to everything from THE HUMAN TORNADO, BLACK BELT JONES and SLAUGHTER'S BIG RIP-OFF,to iconic films like SHAFT, SUPERFLY and THE MACK. Like the best parodies, you have to know and deeply love the genre you're spoofing very well to pull it off successfully, and just like Rob Reiner (THIS IS SPINAL TAP), the Monty Python crew and Team ZAZ with the aforementioned AIRPLANE, these cats "know they s***!!"
And very much in the tradition of the movies they are lovingly sending up, the cast is a who's-who of black acting talent of every stripe. Seriously, WHEN was the last time you saw Arsenio Hall and Tommy Davidson? (Who prove here that they can also still be hysterically funny with the right stuff to work with!)
It makes me feel that that there is no cinematic justice that this movie wasn't better promoted and distributed, but like some of the world's best cult films, it will be destined to find a steadily growing and enthusiastic home audience, thanks to the magic of DVD and Blu-Ray. (Which reminds me - this needs a "Special Edition" release ASAP! The Blu-Ray is criminally void of the kind of BTS extras a movie like this deserves.)
If you are in the mood for a really good laugh, BLACK DYNAMITE will deliver the kind of satisfaction that will "put yo' ass in traction!"