Malibu's Most Wanted (2003)
I'm not going to lie. I hate rap
music. Sure, I like Eminem but that's not really rap.
Gangster rap and the whole thug mentality really pisses
me off. And nothing makes me more ill (in the traditional
sense of the word) than seeing cute teenage white
boys dressed like gangster rapper wannabees. It is
ridiculous. I cannot stand when youth (of whatever
race) emulate these debauched, ignorant, sexist, homophobic,
low- life cretins called rappers. That these animals
of society are given any measure of acceptance and
respect makes me want to vomit.
But "Malibu's Most Wanted" helped
me to see past much of my racism and anger geared
towards rap music and white acceptance of such a lifestyle.
I still have problems with it, but this film made
me see that much of my feelings are generate by age,
my own white fear, and ignorance.
So here's my review:
If you want to see the funniest
film of 2003, see "Malibu's Most Wanted!" It's he-larious,
man! I love this movie. It has a great message and
more chuckles per scene than any other film you will
see this year.
The true genesis of all the laughs
is Jaime Kennedy. I don't like his TV show at all,
but here he is perfect. Playing B- rad (Brad) Gluckman,
a white (supposedly) teenage poseur from Malibu, Kennedy
hits every note right. This could have been a stupid
character, one that we didn't believe (no teenager
could have played it as well as Kennedy does) but
the comedian elevates the material by bringing just
the right amounts of honesty and heart to the role.
Sure Kennedy is cute as a bug but
that isn't all he has going for him. He is in nearly
every scene in this movie and he provides so much
hilarity that he owns it. But this isn't just his
film. He knows how to improv, how to riff and how
to share. The rest of the cast here provides tremendous
support for Kennedy and they do so because he gives
them every opportunity to be just as funny, just as
charming, and most importantly, just as integral to
the film as he is.
Wonderful characters and moments
are created by Anthony Anderson, Taye Diggs, and Regina
Hall. And there is terrific support from tertiary
characters by Ryan O'Neal, Blair Underwood, Jeffrey
Tambor and a cast of hundreds of actors who do marvellous
work here. Everyone is just perfect.
Sure, there are a few scenes that
go over the top. Sure, there are a few jokes that
don't work. Sure, some of the humor borders on racist
and stupid. And, sure, this comedy won't be funny
to everybody. But for white, middle class, middle
aged guys, it's a laugh riot. And for gay guys, it's
got even more. Watching Kennedy trying to just be
himself in a world that doesn't accept him is easy
for us to get. Kennedy's B-Rad doesn't fit into the
mold his upstanding politician father exists in and
he certainly doesn't fit into hip-hop culture. He's
as out of place in Malibu as he is in the "ghetto."
But what works so well about this
film is that it reminds us that our idea of African-American
culture, molded by MTV, TV news, and Hollywood, is
often short-sighted and based on ignorance and hype.
In its own loving and subtle way, this film allows
us to see black people (I'm a child of the 70's, can
I please use this term because I mean it with the
utmost respect) as simply people. Sure, it's a farce
and a comedy but its message of love and tolerance
and acceptance is also tinged with this idealized
notion that even thug-acting people are truly just
that: People. It helps us to look past stereotypes
in a way that hasn't been done before and in a way
that needs desperately to be done.
The film sugarcoats some things
for it's plot but it also shows a culture where guns,
violence, anger, alcohol and sex is predominant. The
film has a violent scene of gun play and features
thug characters who are in a gang but it shows this
as only a part of the picture, a piece of the puzzle.
There are African-Americans of all types here and
through Kennedy's eyes (as B-Rad) we see them with
love, understanding and acceptance. We see that we
are ignorant and foolish and we have been mislead.
Yes, "Malibu's Most Wanted" makes
a joke out of white boys who act black... But only
on the surface. If you think about the film, Kennedy
(and his cohorts here) provide a character who is
simply being himself (or, at least, the self that
makes him happy). All he asks is that we try to understand
and accept him. All he asks is that we let him be
happy by being the person that makes him happiest
and hurts no one else in doing so. What greater message
could there be for a film than that?
And it's as funny as hell.
Note:
With many rappers and musicians
in minor roles. Snoop Dogg has a voice cameo. Also
with Bo Derrek as B-Rad's mom.
Written and produced by Kennedy
and his TV show cohorts Fax Bahr and Adam Small. Nick
Swardson (who plays Mocha in B- Rad's "gang") is also
a scripter.
Kennedy is actually 33 years old.
Viewed in Austin in April 2003
