Undercover Brother
Undercover Brother was way better than I thought it would be. I'd heard 'a black Austin Powers' and that's true, but it's SO much more. They manage to pay tribute to black cinema while also parodying it. They also manage to both wink and nod at common black conspiracy theories while also completely mocking others that are obvious bullshit. The movie manages to avoid being either an afro-centric skewering of white society OR a minstrel show mocking black culture. It really walks the line well, and becomes a smart social satire as well as a side-ripping comedy.
The references are a mile a minute. For example, the angry Chief who always browbeats his agents sits in front of a wall...covered with photos of other angry, black cops or captains from other movies who always yell at -their- underlings. (They even have a photo of Sledge Hammer's old captain...a REALLY obscure reference.)
The broad strokes of comedy are balanced well by the sharp social licks. It's an extremely funny movie, chock full of some kick ass music. (George Clinton and the P. Funks, James Brown, 'Play That Funky Music White Boy', 'Kung-Fu Fighting', 'Car Wash'...just a parade of great 70's funk hits.)
Chris Kattan is hilarious, as usual, as Mr. Feather, the main villain and henchman to The Man. Neil Patrick 'Doogie Howser' Harris steals every scene he's in as the one white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., the black secret agency. Above all, this is the star-making turn for Eddie Griffin. He IS Undercover Brother...just like Mike Meyers is Austin Powers. He's created a character that just fits his talents perfectly.
