Reel Critics

Clem Dominguez

Some in the black community may find this spoof on race relations

politically incorrect -- I found it just good plain fun. Judging from the

reaction of the other theatergoers, I wasn’t alone.

Eddie Griffin is “Undercover Brother,” a throwback to the 70s with an

afro and a desire to help his poor black brothers. He drives a big yellow

Cadillac and puts on a gaudy display of shallow black values as

interpreted by the white America of the 1950s.

Undercover Brother’s mission is to find the general and bring him

back. To help him in his mission he is given some typical James Bond-type

gadgets allowing his car to shoot oil out the rear pipes and some new

surprising gadgets which, were very funny. Griffin also gets help on his

mission from Sistah Girl (Aunjanue Ellis). She is very much the smarter

of the two and in most fight scenes, is also the tougher.

That’s pretty much the whole plot in a nutshell, but then again the

plot is almost an afterthought in this movie.

The jokes are predictable, yet funny when delivered by Griffin. I

especially liked when Griffin was “whitewashed” and his “under-control”

driving. It was like watching a combination of the Maxwell Smart spy

series of the 60s and all of the “Austin Powers” movies.

Griffin was excellent as “Undercover Brother,” his mannerisms alone

make you laugh. One excellent addition to the story was Denise Richards

as the “white she-devil.” She lures Griffin into the white world of

Michael Bolton music and white bread with mayo sandwiches. I thought she

brought a needed lift to a very weak plot line.

Chris Kattan (Saturday Night Live) had his moments as “The Man’s”

director of evil, but his routines are too reminiscent of the character

skits on “Saturday Night Live.” Billy Dee Williams was a non-factor as

the General. I did like Lance (Neil Patrick Harris) as the white

affirmative action employee in the Brotherhood Group.

Go see this movie if you like “Austin Power’s” movies or you’re old

enough to remember the Maxwell Smart series. Stay away if you’re

sensitive about African American race relations.

* CLEM DOMINGUEZ, 57, is an aspiring screenwriter and film fanatic.