BLACK DYNAMITE (2009)
Reviewed By Jerry Saravia
Not too long ago I saw an early 1970's blaxploitation parody called "Darktown Strutters," a slight but occasionally catoonish film that had some lulls yet scored just as many laughs. "Black Dynamite," however, goes much further - it is uproarious and captures the grit and underexposed lighting (and some snazzy bright colors) of those 70's pictures perfectly, complete with awful acting and technical malfunctions that will please film buffs more than anyone else.
Michael Jai White (best known for "Spawn") is the superhero ex-CIA agent and Vietnam Vet with the big afro known as Black Dynamite, who has the ability to smile without smiling. After Dynamite's brother is killed by some possible crime syndicate, he seeks full vengeance. After discovering his brother's actual role before being gunned down and learning how the crime syndicate is giving street kids heroin, Dynamite promises to clean up the streets in his community and get rid of the drug dealers. "But Black Dynamite, *I* sell drugs in the community," says one drug dealer.
Along with the help of a Pam Grier lookalike (Salli Richardson), the heroes discover that it all comes down to a plan involving malt liquor emasculating black men. There are also crooked cops, crooked politicians like our former President Nixon, a visit to Kung Fu Island, and lots of violence and sexual escapades, including threesomes. If you are easily offended by racial epithets, the N-word is said aplenty here (Spike Lee is hopefully taking notes). An added plus is a nifty and splendidly funny scene where Dynamite deciphers a top secret operation called "Code Kansas" inside of a diner. It is mostly a play on words and codes and it is cheerfully outrageous.
"Black Dynamite" loses a little momentum about halfway through and grows a little tiresome yet, when the energy level comes front and center in the exciting climax where Dynamite kicks ass and we see Tommy Davidson as a ridiculous character named Cream Corn, not to mention a hilarious cameo by Arsenio Hall as Tasty Freeze, I rolled with laughter. Pure deconstruction and mimickry of a long expired genre, "Black Dynamite" is a little uneven yet Michael Jai White (who should be a shoo-in for Luke Cage, if anyone's interested in making that comic-book come alive) captures the spirit and pizazz of a genre and decade that looks positively tame compared to today's ultraviolent action pictures. After it is over, you might happily sing the repetitive choral chord of "DYNO-MITE!!!" That is part of its charm.
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