Undercover Brother -- PG-13
Starring: Eddie Griffin, Dave Chappelle
Directed by: Malcom D. Lee
Showing: Showplace East 11
I'm not going to be that guy that says "If you don't laugh, check your pulse." Nobody likes that guy, but when you go to see "Undercover Brother," be prepared for a workout. You just may laugh your way to a six-pack.
The movie stars Eddie Griffin as Undercover Brother, the afro-sporting, Caddy driving, orange drink sipping super agent whose mission in life is to fight injustice. After a hilarious mission at a bank, he runs into Sistah Girl (Aunjanue Ellis) who persuades him to work for the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., a secret agency striving for "truth, justice and the African-American way." They need him to find out why General Boutwell (Billy Dee Williams), the first black man to run for president, inexplicably decided to drop out of the race and open a chain of fried chicken restaurants (where if you buy a Nappy Meal, you get a free 32 "izzel" or ounce of malt liquor).
Griffin joins The Chief (Chi McBride), Smart Brother (Gary Anthony Williams), Conspiracy Brother (Dave Chappelle), Sistah Girl and Lance the Intern (Neil Patrick Harris) to fight The Man, who is behind all injustice and his crony Mr. Feather (Chris Kattan). Denise Richards shows up as White She-Devil, or "Black Man's Kryptonite," and is used by Kattan to throw Griffin off the trail in trying to figure out what is up with the General. As Penelope Snow, she turns Undercover Brother into everything he wasn't before, i.e. Docker's and the funniest mayo explanation ever.
The funniest scene in a movie full of them is Chappelle's rant at finding out a reformed She-Devil was allowed to join the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. along with Lance (aka Doogie Hauser). My ribs already hurt before from laughing, but in the aftermath of Chappelle's rant, I felt as if I'd been beaten up.
Overall, Griffin and Chappelle are unbelievably hilarious. The only downside to the movie was Kattan's performance. He got a little out of hand with his brand of physical comedy. Still, if you are looking to put $7.50 from your party fund toward something that won't leave you with a hangover the next day, run, don't walk.
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