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Malibu's Most Wanted

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Judy Thorburn

Malibu's Most Wanted

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Flick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha ChemplavilFlick Chicks Chick-O-Meter The Flick Chicks, film, video, movie reviews, critics, Judy Thorburn, Victoria Alexander, Polly Peluso, Shannon Onstot, Jacqueline Monahan, Tasha Chemplavil

“MALIBU’S MOST WANTED” – IS A FUNNY, COLORFUL COMEDY

I haven’t been much of a fan of Jamie Kennedy.  In fact, I have never even watched his WB comedy The Jamie Kennedy Experiment on TV. Nor, do I remember him as a supporting player in the Scream movies. And, he didn’t really impress me as the host of the recent Awards Banquet at the prestigious ShoWest convention last month. So, I wasn’t expecting much from Malibu’s Most Wanted, since he has the leading role.  I really thought it was going to be another one of those disappointing black culture vs. white culture comedies that has been hitting the screens lately such as Head of State and Bringing Down The House. The trailers didn’t help, since it failed to peak my interest. However, I was pleasantly surprised at what a fun time I had from the eighty six minutes its on screen, and how Jamie pulled off his role in just the right way to tickle my funny bone.

Jamie Kennedy stars as Bradley Gluckman, a rich white boy residing in a beachside mansion in Malibu. He walks the walk and talks the talk of a youth from the ghetto, with the same mannerisms, clothes and lingo of boys from the hood. He’s a wannabe rapper who prefers being called B-Rad, and hanging with other “posers” like himself. But, his politician dad, Bill (Ryan O’Neal) is running for governor, and sees Brad as an embarrassment, especially since a psychiatrist said Brad has the “worse case of gangsta-phrenia” he has ever seen. So, what’s the elder Gluckman to do to save his image and keep him from losing the election?

Campaign manager Tom Gibbons (Blair Underwood) comes up with a plan to hire two classically trained African American actors for $15,000 to impersonate some ghetto thugs,  kidnap Brad, take him to South Central L.A, and scare the “black out of him” in order to bring him back to reality. But it isn’t that simple. These actors, Sean and P.J, although black, relate less than Brad to the ‘hood. So, they enlist P.J.’s cousin Shondra (Regina Hall) to attract B-Rad, while they rehearse in their new personas, Bloodbath and Tre,k so as to come across as real gangstas.  But what happens is, rather than teaching HIM a lesson, B-Rad winds up feeling at home, falling in love, and teaching everyone what it means to be yourself and accepting you for who you are.

Kennedy, besides being extremely funny as B-Rad, also evokes sincerity and likeability into his character of a rich white kid who really thinks he’s black. His wacky rap rhymes of the hardship living in the ”Bu” are a hysterical contrast to the angst driven words of real rap artists. And, supporting players Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson as the acting “thugs”, almost steal the film. Unsure of how to act black, their preparations and interactions, from rehearsing some bad ass talk, to trying on various ghetto garb to reading a dictionary on hip hop slang was a riot. It was nice to see Ryan O’Neal, even though rather chunky, back to work again.  He looked like he was having a grand old time. However, if you blink you might not even notice Bo Derek, in a special cameo appearance as his wife Bess Gluckman, B-Rad’s mom. Hers is a thankless role with one line (maybe two, but no more). And, Snoop Dogg has a brief  voice over part as a rat (yes, as in rodent) who lends some interesting and amusing advice to our lead character.

Like I said, I was very surprised to walk out still laughing at this genuinely enjoyable, non offensive  film. If you like a good spoof, this one certainly fills the bill, parodying white rappers and the hip hop scene, including an amusing takeoff of Eminem’s nightclub rhyme battle from his flick 8 Mile. And, for those wondering, the title refers to what happens when B-Rad finds himself in the middle of a gansta shoot out. It’s just one good laugh after another.  And I wasn’t alone.  The preview audience was in a roar, proving this comedy to be the funniest of the year, so far. Forget the other less than favorable reviews. If the other critics didn’t get the humor, I say “Don’t Be Hate’n’”.  Just lighten up!