Stream it now I'm Gonna Git You Sucka 1988

 

At Least It Was Cheap

I have discovered in myself a desperate love of blaxploitation. It surprises me as much as anyone, given that this was the closest I'd ever seen to it, at least to remember, until quite recently. What watching real ones has led me to understand is that, really, this isn't much of a parody. It's the kind that really plays itself totally straight with the occasional nudge and wink to see if you get how funny it is. Sometimes, this works. Oh, of course, there are often overblown elements thrown in, because otherwise, how do you know they aren't just actually taking it seriously? It is, however, a dangerous line to walk if your intent is to create a quality funny movie, and this movie strayed to the wrong side of that line. Alas. I remember it as being funnier.

The movie begins with the discovery of the body of Junebug, a young black man who has died from wearing too many gold chains--he has OG'd. After the funeral, his brother, Jack Spade (Keenen Ivory Wayans), returns home. He finds out what happened and swears revenge on Mr. Big (John Vernon). It also turns out that Junebug owed Mr. Big a lot of money, which Willie (Kadeem Hardison) and Leonard (Damon Wayans) try to collect from Ma Bell (Ja'net DuBois) and Junebug's widow, Cheryl (Dawnn Lewis), before discovering that Ma Bell is the toughest woman in the neighbourhood. But Jack won't take her help, instead assembling a crew of men who'd been big, tough guys in the neighbourhood in the '70s, most of whom were blaxploitation stars themselves.

The problem, I think, is that there are just the wrong number of moments wherein the film is self-aware of its own silliness. The running gag about the theme music is great. The moment wherein Ma Bell, while trashing bozos, suddenly turns into an obvious stuntman (a white guy with a large moustache) is not. I adore the shoes Flyguy (Antonio Fargas) is wearing as he leaves prison, but the scene with Kalinga (Clarence Williams III) starts well but stretches too long and seems too contrived. In fact, the movie's failing really seems to be not knowing when to end a gag, all the worse in a movie that isn't even a hour and a half long. Surely there were other mockable things from films of the era worth sticking in instead of taking as long as they did to have mourners take away the flowers from Junebug's funeral or have Damon Wayans thrown down the stairs three times.

This may be the ultimate failing of the Wayans family. I watched In Living Color some when it was new, and the funny kind of burned off. It's a failing SNL has sometimes, too. (Apparently quite a lot lately.) The issue, really, is that this was about the high point for the Wayans franchise; so far as I know, they've never learned their lesson. When I saw Frost/Nixon in the theatre, there was, inexplicably, a preview for the most recent of their movies, and it looked just dreadful. Now, it's possible this is another one of those things I supposedly won't get because I'm white, but it may also be true that they just aren't funny. Certainly not as funny as they think they are.

Okay, there is one moment from the show that I do think is still worth watching. As often as you can, really. Chris Rock, in one of his first roles, plays "Rib Joint Customer." Doubtless you can find just this clip somewhere. He's playing off Isaac Hayes as Hammer and Jim Brown as Slammer, and the bit is just hilarious. I don't want to say too much; I don't want to give away the kicker. However, it's little moments like that, among others, that leave a soft spot in many people's hearts for Chris Rock, even when we think most of what he's appearing in these days is terrible. His stand up from the time was pretty good, too. He, in and of himself, seems to be a hilarious guy who just chooses bad scripts. This one is pretty bad, too, but this one moment is not, and the casting is ideal.

This has so many wtf moments. Of course it's better to have seen this back then (as I did), today it might seem a bit more dated. But Chris Rock Rib scene, Ghetto Olympics, the BIG TOE!!!! and a lot of allusions and spoofs (oh, the Gold/drug analogy, fabulously ridiculous) make this a fun movie plus it has got a great soundtrack (funk/hiphop)

I cant believe everyone doesn't have at least an 8 rating for this movie. Kung- Fu Joe, that football guy, and that Wayans brother with all the arm medals taking on that old guy from attack of the killer clowns- Great Movie.

an extremely hilarious movie with a satisfying plot

LOL. THIS MOVIE IS FULL OF STUPID SARCASM, WHICH CAN BE GOOD IN SOME CASES, BUT NOT THIS ONE. I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA IS HORRIBLE

I'M GONNA GIT YOU SUCKA
(KEENEN IVORY WAYANS, 1988)
R
1 HOUR 28 MINUTES

(***):

The most ignorant movie created - ever ever, ever ever!

I recently gave "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" a second viewing, and it wasn't near as funny as when I saw it way back in the day. The movie premise has so much potential, and the cast is all killer (Keenen Ivory Wayans wrote the script and stars, along with 70's black action stars Issac Hayes, Bernie Casey and Jim Brown) but it lacks the killer instinct. It gets you on the ropes with a good joke set-up or comic situation, then lets up and backs off.

Maybe I'm being to hard on this movie. It does have some super-funny scenes I'm sure have been lifted by other movies since. The movie has a warmth and easy-going vibe I really like. You want to settle into the sofa with your popcorn and soak it all in. It's not for everybody, but if it's not a black comedy classic, it's darn close.

If you really like comedies, 'git dis sucka!

:fresh: :fresh: :fresh: :fresh: :fresh: Do you remember the Blacksplotation flicks from the late 60's and early 70's ? no?? Then you won't get this one. Much like, not being able to get the jokes in the, Austin Powers movies, unless you see all the early, James Bond movies.