Directed By: Peter MacDonald
Written By: Damon Wayans
Cinematography By: Don Burgess
Editor: Hubert C. de La Bouillerie
Cast: Damon Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Stacey Dash, Joe Santos, John Diehl, Harry Lennix, Jackie Hoffman, Bernie Mac, Irma P. Hall, Salli Richardson-Whitfield. Mark Beltzman, Almayvonne
Trying to get his act together, a con artist gets a job in a credit card company. He falls in , love with a fellow employee, he steals a couple of cards, everything is going great. But soon, the chief of security drags him into the big leagues of criminals.
I am sure there were quite a few people upset that this wasn’t a spin off of the homeboys shopping network from the skit comedy show IN LIVING COLOR. Even as it used their catchphrase, which is only Fair as this movie stars one half of the duo that wrote and starred on the show.
This was really Damon Wayans first starring role in a movie. Already a well known Stand-up comic and actor. This was his first solo starring role and while he achieves what he aims for, his thunder is silenced a bit by his scene stealing younger brother Marlon Wayans. Who showed he would go just as far to make things funny was more flexible and brought a youthful energy to the film. He was a replacement for Kadeem Hardison.
Damon wayans is a capable and charismatic leading man. As he is a con man in this movie it gives him a chance to play sill and way over the top stereotypical characters at times. That seem to borrow a bit from the popular ones he played in the show IN LIVING COLOR. There are times where some of the jokes miss in the situation.
Truly a film of it’s time period this urban comedy involves a con man trying to go legit and being brought into an even bigger swindle by his co-worker and when he tries to get out is threatened.
Early in the film has more comedic set-up’s then in the second half where it seems to go more a light thriller
I remember seeing this film twice in theaters the first time I thought it was hilarious the second time I thought it was just ok. Proving this to be a movie where you more feed off the audience to make the experience more memorable and when left to your own devices what seemed spectacular might just be serviceable. Almost like a stand-up routine in itself.
The film has many comedic highlights some that are dependent on reacting to outrageous characters. There for the simple reason of being over the top and usually broad Caucasian stereotypes.
The film does have a romantic storyline with Stacey Dash before She was in CLUELESS playing a teenager. Here she is a executive businesswoman more in her late 20’s to early 30ms at the time she truly was ageless. Before later becoming more of a republican firebrand commentator.
The film does stand up though Maybe the fashions are more questionable.
the film has an odd tone as it is silly most of the time but then has a violent and gritty element that comes up once in awhile and at the end that aren’t player for laughs and can be quite jarring.
The film Feels like three different films. The first act is a comedy the second is a romance and the third act becomes an action film that reminds the audience of Wayans in THE LAST BOYSCOUT, but not as over the top and gruesome. Though there are hints in each art to where it is going
This was another movie that was helped powered by good word of mouth, community and a popular hit soundtrack that contained a Janet Jackson & Luther Vandross duet THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE ARE FREE.
It’s a nice film to see a urban middle class romance and comedy. That for the time is contemporary a little silly but fun.
It allows Wayans to play to his strength of comedic characters. As his character uses those personas to work his con games. But it also allows him to play it straight in the scenes where he is trying to go clean and not only be better but romantic.
Grade: C+
Cut To The Chase 