Review of Black Dynamite (2009) by Michael V — 17 Nov 2011

This is one of the few movies I've seen in a long time that hasn't left me feeling ripped off. Thoroughly entertaining and the funniest movie I've seen so far this year. Finally a blaxploitation spoof done right.

We suffered through Pootie Tang and the tolerable Undercover Brother. But no. Not this. This movie does what other spoof films haven't done. It's well crafted and thought out and shows a great attention to detail.

Everyone wore the 70's soul brother pimp outfits and knew kung fu. Crazy names like Cream Corn, Tasty Freeze, and my favorite Chocolate GiddyUp. The crime leads to plots involving drug-addicted orphans and malt liquor that gives African-American men a case of the Little Richards.

Through it all, you encounters mobsters, dealers, pimps, hustlers, whores, Black Power revolutionaries, corrupt CIA operatives, kung fu assassins and. . . good God. . . a nunchuks-wielding Richard Nixon in the HonkyHouse.

The camera work is great, music is well chosen, the backgrounds and venues are authentic, the jokes and dialog are funny, Michael Jai White and the supporting cast are great. And it was extremely strange to find myself looking forward to see a Michael Jai White film.

Which he also wrote. I never had anything against the guy. He is perfect for action B-Movies that I'd watch on cable. But this I was excited to watch. And he was fantastic. Great to see sketch comedy alums Tommy Davidson, Nicole Sullivan, Arsenio Hall, and the always hilarious Cedric Yarbrough.

Mykelti Williamson makes an apperance which I hope this means he is getting his career back on track because I've always enjoyed him. Mike Starr, Brian McKnight, Bokeem Woodbine also star. It's a shame it didn't get the much deserved publicity but at the sametime it'll help this movie slide over to the cult classic shelves next to Donnie Darko, Pulp Fiction, and The Boondock Saints.