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Undercover Brother 2002 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Malcolm D. Lee
PG-13, 83 min. (language, sexuality, violence) |
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Starring: Eddie Griffin, Chris Kattan, Denise Richards, David Chappelle, Aunjanue Ellis, Neil Patrick Harris, Chi McBride, Billy Dee Williams
Producers: Brian Grazer, Michael Jenkinson, Damon Lee
Screenplay: John Ridley, Michael McClullers
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Released: 5/31/02 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Undercover Brother is a lightweight enjoyable pleasure of a film, delivering equal jabs at ethnic groups (black and white in
particular) and offering plenty of laughs during a perfect 80-minute running length. The film is a clear response to the
Austin Powers franchise, except this time the protagonist is a hip 1970's "Robin Hood"-like black man on a mission. The
jokes are similar but more clever, and most importantly it never takes itself seriously despite an underlying message of
equality for all people. There are some dull and over-acted moments to be sure, but not enough to tarnish the story as a whole,
making this the best true-comedy of the year to date.
Anton Jackson (Eddie Griffin) is determined to make the black man's voice heard in today's society, and uses the look of the
70's as his platform. As Undercover Brother, Jackson is making slow progress; it's not until he is recruited by the
B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., an underground agency whose purpose is to promote racial unity, that his talents can be put to
their full use. He's been charged with uncovering the mystery behind "The Man" and his ridiculous assistant, Mr. Feather
(Chris Kattan), and their involvement in a prominent black general's (Billy Dee Williams) decision to not run for President
and start a fried chicken franchise instead. Jackson is assisted by the beautiful Sista Girl (Aunjanue Ellis), Conspiracy
Brother (David Chappelle), Smart Brother (Gary Anthony Williams), and Lance (Neil Patrick Harris), a white intern. Together
they form a formidable team.
The film is basically a string of funny scenes put together without much thought to congruency, but it really doesn't matter
here - it's funny anyway. Jackson's "blackness" is put the test several times, but his decision to infiltrate white corporate
America is the film's highlight. His mimic of white men includes the inability to dance, eating lots of mayonnaise, and
falling for a beatiful white woman, "She-Devil" (Denise Richards) or "black man's kryptonite." It's these moments when
Undercover Brother really shines.
What makes the film so effective is that it dishes out equal time for parodies of both white and black America. Of course,
both cultures are exaggerated for full effect, but it does point out the fact that the differences between us are not
all that disimilar. In fact, in the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., which is mostly made up of black agents, is open to all cultures
who share a similar belief - that of equality for all mankind. The only animosity between black and white here are between
She-Devil and Sista Girl, whose hilarious cat-fight turns into a montage of sexuality and eventually cooperation.
Undercover Brother is a frothy film that's difficult to dislike. Only the more hardened viewer will not appreciate what it has
to offer - these poor souls probably need some counseling if they can't understand the humor here. Eddie Griffin is a nearly
perfect Jackson, while Ellis, Richards, and Chappelle are equally adept at their roles. Only Chris Kattan is a disappointment
as the antagonist, but he's yet to provide a winning performance anyway. Although Austin Powers 3 opens later this
summer, it will be hard-pressed to top this inventive, surprisingly original film by Malcolm D. Lee (Spike Lee's cousin).
© 2002 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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