Eddie Griffin plays Undercover Brother, the “Robin Hood of the hood” who is recruited by B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., an organization dedicated to preserving truth, justice and the Afro-American way. Their main enemy is The Man (Robert Trumbull), a shadowy character who has been trying to suppress the influence of blacks on white culture. Working for B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. are Sistah Girl (Aunjunue Ellis), Conspiracy Brother (Dave Chappelle), Smart Brother (Gary Anthony Williams) and their boss, The Chief (Chi McBride). In The Man’s corner are Mr. Feather (Chris Kattan) and White She Devil (Denise Richards).
Undercover Brother‘s plot centers around The Man’s creation of a mind control drug that is first used to keep a Colin Powell-like presidential candidate, General Boutwell (Billy Dee Williams), out of the White House. When Boutwell calls a press conference, he announces he’s opening a chain of fried chicken restaurants rather than declaring his intention to run for president. (“I used to work for the Pentagon, now I help you get your chicken on!” is one of the slogans in a hilarious commercial for the chain.)
Undercover Brother attempts to mine blaxploitation films for humor as Austin Powers did with 1960s secret agent movies. Undercover Brother, however, has a few points to make as it delivers its jokes. While the source material that the film derives most of it’s humor might be less familiar to the audience than the filmmakers might think, Undercover Brother still manages to be the funniest movie I’ve seen this year.
The script, penned by John Ridley and Michael McCullers, is chock full of swipes at both black and white stereotypes. The jokes alternate from intelligent and subtle to just plain dumb, but rarely do they fail to generate at least a smile. Obviously, this is a movie that doesn’t take itself seriously, but it does take the job of being funny seriously enough to actually be funny. Undercover Brother is also notable for humor that is devoid of the mean streak that permeates most comedies lately and, for a movie that tackles racial humor in as broad a manner as this one, that’s truly special.
The only problem is Chris Kattan. Maybe I just don’t get him, but he’s simply not funny no matter what he’s doing in this film (or any other, for that matter.) He’s a small, but significant, blemish on this otherwise funny movie.
Seek out Undercover Brother and enjoy it for what it is: a slyly smart and somewhat stylish 70s satire with sass and sex appeal. (Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.)
3.5 out of 5.0 stars
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