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WHITE CHICKS
Unrated
Review by Gordon Justesen
Stars:
Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, John
Heard
Director: Keenan Ivory Wayans
Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1, French Dolby Digital 5.1
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Studio: Columbia Tri Star
Features: See Review
Length: 115 Minutes
Release Date: October 26, 2004
"You
know what they say; once you go black…you'll need a wheelchair."
Film
**
When watching a
movie like White Chicks, the first
thing that comes to mind is the expression "a little bit goes a long
way". To me, that's about the most perfect way you can sum up the premise
of this latest comedy offering from seasoned pros the Wayans Brothers. It tries
to make the most of a plot idea where the element of suspending disbelief is
curiously challenged.
When I say the
Wayans are seasoned pros, I mean every word of it. Shawn Wayans and Marlon
Wayans have collaborated on much superior efforts like Don't Be a Menace to South Central and Scary Movie. Re-teaming with older brother, and Scary
Movie director, Keenan Ivory Wayans, the funny duo have made a film with
momentary good laughs, but with a lame-brained plot that feels more complicated
than it needs to be.
Shawn and Marlon
play undercover feds Kevin and Miles Copeland, who are your basic law
enforcement screw ups. With every case they are given, the two go outside the
zone, as it's phrased, to nab the crooks through deep undercover…literally.
Through elaborate disguises, they attempt to nab any wanted felon. The opening
scene has the two disguised as Cuban store clerks while trying to catch a drug
supplier.
With their boss,
Chief Gordon (Frankie Faison), one step away from kicking them off the force,
Kevin and Marcus see their chance opportunity to redeem themselves with a new
assignment. The task involves guarding ultra rich hotel heiresses the Wilson
sisters (no quick guesses needed as to who exactly the movie is spoofing here)
who have been threatened with a possible kidnapping.
Following a minor
car accident, leaving the sisters unharmed but too embarrassed to be seen at a
big party event in the Hamptons, the two agents come up with a last minute plan.
Undergoing their usual makeup job to acquire disguises, Kevin and Marcus are
given the latex mask treatment and decide to attend the gathering in drag,
hoping that it just might lure the alleged kidnappers.
What follows in White
Chicks can pretty much be foreseen by anyone who's seen Tootsie,
Mrs. Doubtfire or Big Momma's House.
It basically consists of the two agents convincing everyone they come across
that they're the sisters. And although the make up job, especially on Marlon
Wayans, is hysterical to look at, is it not possible to suspect that the very
people who know who these girls, particularly their close knit girlfriends, will
notice a vital difference in the facial area alone?
Never mind, I
mentioned the movie does offer laughs, and they mostly involve a supporting
character named Latrell Spencer (former NFL player Terry Crews). Latrell is a
pro athlete embroiled in media scandals, mostly because of his fetish for young
white girls. When he lays his sights on Marcus in disguise, the laughs are
nearly non stop at this point. A visual gag involving Latrell's accidental
ingesting of ecstasy results in a big laugh out loud moment.
Moments like that
save White Chicks from being a truly
worse movie. The movie has some additional gags, but simply not enough. And at
times, some jokes aren't as successful. Case in point, the scene where the
agents' cover is discovered by Marcus' wife is a moment stolen straight out of Bad
Boys, where it was a whole lot funnier. And although I wasn't expecting to
be enthralled by whatever action/suspense was offered, the final standoff, where
in which the kidnapper's identity is revealed, has to be one of the more poorly
written and executed scenes I've seen recently.
To say whether or
not White Chicks had any sort of
potential is questionable. You can do a limited number of things with a premise
that has been used so many times. I give the Wayans' credit, but if you want
bigger laughs, watch Mrs. Doubtfire or
The Nutty Professor instead.
Video
****
No complaints about
the video handling. Columbia Tri Star deliver their unquestionable, and usual,
best with this superb looking presentation. The anamorphic video consists of
nothing but bright and clear imagery, making the Hamptons set look quite
engaging. No image flaws of any sort detected. Hands down, a strong and superior
job.
Audio
***1/2
Although the movie
is a comedy, the 5.1 does elevate this presentation above expectations. Dialogue
delivery is downright clear and perfect as can be. Momentary action, like the
opening shootout in the store, and sequences involving music, including a big
dance club scene, deliver some incredible and dynamically leveled sound. A nice
surprise.
Features
***
This Uncut and
Unrated Edition of the movie includes, for starters, six additional minutes of
newly added footage, as well as a Wayans Brothers commentary, three featurettes;
"How'd They Do That" takes a look at the work that went into the make
up effects, "A Wayans Comedy" covers the creative process amongst the
brothers, and there's an Encore On the Set featurette to round them out, lastly,
there is a trailer gallery, featuring this and a number of upcoming and
available CTS releases, including a trailer for the upcoming Will Smith comedy, Hitch.
Summary: