Movie of The Week Review: White Chicks
"Making my way downtown, walkin' fast, faces pass, and I'm homebound"
PG-13 2004-Comedy/Crime, Run Time: 1hr 49mins
Can Be Seen On: Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Youtube, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home
Movie Short Summary: Two FBI agent brothers, Marcus (Marlon Wayans) and Kevin Copeland (Shawn Wayans), accidentally foil a drug bust. As punishment, they are forced to escort a pair of socialites (Anne Dudek, Rochelle Aytes) to the Hamptons, where they're going to be used as bait for a kidnapper. But when the girls realize the FBI's plan, they refuse to go. Left without options, Marcus and Kevin decide to pose as the sisters, transforming themselves from African-American men into a pair of blonde, white women.
Welcome back watchers! Hopefully you were able to sneak in a watch for this amazing cult classic comedy White Chicks! As I mentioned in the preview, I have been watching the Wayans Brothers tv show that has brought back a lot of nostalgia and laughs. Now after seeing, White Chicks, I’m gonna have to dive into the Scary Movie franchise again. It was a great reminder of how many comedies we are missing out on now as big studios have decided to mostly go the super hero route or re-makes because they perform better at the box office. I don’t know it just feels like we won’t get another over the top comedy anytime soon or a concept so ridiculous as two black FBI officers going undercover as two dumb blonde white chicks. Let me know what you think in the comments about the state of comedies in the industry and if this is going to be the norm for now.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!
Trivia Question #1: What was one scene that was shot in 1 take?
(answers at the bottom of the review)
For those of you have previously seen White Chicks, the answer to your question, is YES! This movie still holds up and is just as hilarious, goofy, funny and over the top as it was then which makes you want to spend all day binging 2000s comedies. Now is it one of the greatest comedies of all time? No so let’s not set the expectations that high but its arguably one of the greatest concepts for a comedy of all time for sure. For one of the questions in the preview to get your wheels turning as you are watching the film, I asked if you thought this movie could be made today? Honestly I don’t think so. I think the Wayans brothers would have gotten cancelled for this idea and someone would have been insulted about the portrayal of a white woman. the movie is rated PG-13 and there isn’t anything too outlandish but maybe the scene where all the white girls are in the car driving and the radio is turned to a rap song with the n-word and they still rap it because “nobody is around” could be seen as pushing the envelope.
The movie follows FBI agents Kevin (Shawn Wayans) and Marcus (Marlon Wayans) Copeland, who go undercover as the Wilson sisters, two wealthy, ditsy blonde celebrities, to solve a kidnapping plot. The transformation of the Wayans brothers into the blonde, privileged Wilson sisters is a comedic punchlines especially with the Yo-mama jokes and their incredible physical comedy. The supporting cast, including Terry Crews as the love-struck Latrell Spencer, makes you fall in love with this film even more. Crews’ performance is a standout, bringing a level of energy and charm that elevates every scene he’s in. His iconic lip-syncing to Vanessa Carlton’s "A Thousand Miles" the real anthem of this movie remains one of the most unforgettable moments and memories every time I hear this song on the radio or in a random Spotify playlist. He is absolutely fantastic from beginning to end and my personal favorite character of the movie. From the farting at the dinner table to scene to being on the dance floor with his shirt off dancing like crazy with glow sticks are just some scenes that are gems.
Trivia Question #2: The Wilson sisters are two parodies based on what celebrities?
White Chicks cleverly pokes fun at the absurdities of high society while also addressing issues of race, privilege, and identity. One example of race is even at the end of the film when Latrell dives in the way and takes a bullet for who he thinks is the real Tiffany Wilson only for it to be revealed to him seconds after that it’s Marcus. Instead of Latrell having a problem that Tiffany turned out to be a man, he had a probelm with the fact that Marcus was black. Even with being the same race, it goes to show that status and privilege can make a huge difference in how people view others. Another powerful example is the stark contrast in how the Copeland brothers are treated when they're out of disguise versus when they’re posing as the Wilson sisters. As the Wilsons, they are fawned over and catered to by the same people who would otherwise ignore or belittle them in their real identities. This juxtaposition is both comedic and eye-opening, shedding light on the superficiality and biases that pervade social interactions. Despite the film’s exaggerated and often ridiculous scenarios, it successfully uses these moments to comment on the real-life implications of privilege.
Trivia Question #3: How much did Latrell bid on Tiffany Wilson (Marcus) at the auction to win a date with her?
OFFICIAL SCORE: 7.4/10
Overall Marlon and Shawn Wayans deliver a cult classic comedy that is still re-watchable to this day. It keeps you laughing from start to finish as you watch them jump through hoops of trying to stay in character as a white woman but still act out in their manly voice when men hit on them, taking loud shits in the women’s bathroom, and not being able to relate to celebrity gossip or the whose who in town. Apart from the Wayans brothers, the rest of the cast especially Terry Crews has a standout performance that will make you fall in love with his character. Again the nostalgia factor pulls at my heart strings and the fact the movie can still make me laugh just as hard as it did then makes it an easy score for me to give. Don’t forget to be on the look out for the movie preview of the week on Wednesday!
TRIVIA ANSWERS:
#1-Terry Crews shot the "1,000 Miles" scene in one take. (Source: IMDB)
#2- Both Brittany and Tiffany Wilson (the Wilson sisters) are both parodies of Paris Hilton and Nicky Rothschild. (Source: IMDB)
#3-Highest bid of $50,000.