There have been much, much worse comedies out there! I tend to be very picky when it comes to comedies, but this one (against my initial expectations) worked for me. However, any viewer of this movie must keep in mind that political correctness is the enemy of comedy. How else do you explain the massive success of "All in the Family"? Why are some movies and TV shows praised for being politically incorrect while others are bashed? When the humor is mean-spirited, I understand, but "White Chicks" is not one of those cases. In the days of minstrelsy, whites had a grudge against the black people, and that's what distinguishes minstrels in blackface from the Wayans in whiteface. Besides, the Wayans are equal opportunity employers when it comes to irreverence. They crack on Latinos, Asians and even people of their own race. Have you ever watched that little show called...hmm..."In Living Color"? The show (featuring a big chunk of the Wayans family) thrived on racial humor, but it proved to be a big success. It also brought in big laughs. The Wayans (even in the case of the eldest brother, Keenan) aren't exactly masters at humor, and this movie is no "Annie Hall." 'Til this day they depend on crude sexual references, bodily functions or both to get laughs. But you know what? It often works.
The film opens with a hilarious gag involving an undercover operation at an inner city bodega. Shawn and Marlon pose as the Hispanic owners of that bodega. I repeat, political correctness is the enemy of comedy. The gag contains every Hispanic stereotype you can think of, but I was cracking up.
As several other people have pointed out, it's hard to find it credible that anyone would believe that Shawn and Marlon are really white girls. That is true, but the low credibility factor didn't ruin the film in my opinion. It's meant to be a silly, slapstick farce and not everything in a farce is meant to be realistic. As I said, we're not watching "Annie Hall." Some films are meant to be realistic and others are meant to stretch the boundaries of reality. And the movie definitely stretches those boundaries, but it doesn't abandon them.
Terry Crews, who I previously saw in "Friday After Next" (in a much more thankless role), steals the show as a rich black man who lusts after white women, and ends up lusting after one of the Wilson sisters (who is really Marlon in drag). Seeing him, a huge muscular black man, singing "A Thousand Miles" is worth the full price of admission. I honestly didn't see that joke coming, and the gag serves as proof that the Wayans aren't talentless hacks. I mean, he not only ends up singing it, but he sings the whole song! That's the kind of payoff you would only get in a Farrelly Brothers movie! So kudos to the Wayans and the hilarious Terry Crews for that scene.
Undoubtedly, there is a share of gags that elicit simple groans instead of laughs, but the hits outnumber the misses and that's what counts. Many of the gags are predictable, but funny nonetheless. As long as you don't enter the theater with a PC mindframe and expecting biting social commentary, you should enjoy this film.
My score: 7 (out of 10)
The film opens with a hilarious gag involving an undercover operation at an inner city bodega. Shawn and Marlon pose as the Hispanic owners of that bodega. I repeat, political correctness is the enemy of comedy. The gag contains every Hispanic stereotype you can think of, but I was cracking up.
As several other people have pointed out, it's hard to find it credible that anyone would believe that Shawn and Marlon are really white girls. That is true, but the low credibility factor didn't ruin the film in my opinion. It's meant to be a silly, slapstick farce and not everything in a farce is meant to be realistic. As I said, we're not watching "Annie Hall." Some films are meant to be realistic and others are meant to stretch the boundaries of reality. And the movie definitely stretches those boundaries, but it doesn't abandon them.
Terry Crews, who I previously saw in "Friday After Next" (in a much more thankless role), steals the show as a rich black man who lusts after white women, and ends up lusting after one of the Wilson sisters (who is really Marlon in drag). Seeing him, a huge muscular black man, singing "A Thousand Miles" is worth the full price of admission. I honestly didn't see that joke coming, and the gag serves as proof that the Wayans aren't talentless hacks. I mean, he not only ends up singing it, but he sings the whole song! That's the kind of payoff you would only get in a Farrelly Brothers movie! So kudos to the Wayans and the hilarious Terry Crews for that scene.
Undoubtedly, there is a share of gags that elicit simple groans instead of laughs, but the hits outnumber the misses and that's what counts. Many of the gags are predictable, but funny nonetheless. As long as you don't enter the theater with a PC mindframe and expecting biting social commentary, you should enjoy this film.
My score: 7 (out of 10)