Today’s quick review: Black Dynamite. When his brother is gunned down by a drug dealer, Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) leaps into action. Using his kung fu skills, Black Dynamite embarks on a quest to clean up the streets, end a drug epidemic, and win the heart of Gloria (Salli Richardson-Whitfield). But as Dynamite follows the trail of clues to his brother’s killer, he uncovers a conspiracy that goes all the way to the top.
Black Dynamite is a ridiculous action comedy that parodies the blaxploitation films of the 1970s. The movie follows the titular hero as he fights his way through all manner of henchment to get to the source of the drug epidemic plaguing his neighborhood. The movie revels in the outrageous, with larger-than-life characters and dialogue that consistently manages to top itself. However, its particular style of humor won’t appeal to everyone.
Much of Black Dynamite’s humor comes from imitating a low-budget 70s production. The camera shakes, shots linger too long, musical cues are done to death, and the special effects are blatant fakes. The actors even get in on the fun, alternating between overacting and deadpan delivery. The result is a hilarious and surprisingly subtle spoof of the era. However, the deliberately mishandled lines and awkward timing do interrupt the movie’s flow.
The rest of the movie’s humor comes from taking an extreme genre and pushing it over the top. Black Dynamite is a one-man killing machine whose kung fu skills and hard personality make him the master of every situation he’s in. Just a few tweaks to the blaxploitation hero template are enough to create an over-the-top, memorable protagonist. The supporting cast is just as absurd, packed with ridiculous caricatures and shallow but entertaining characters.
Watch Black Dynamite when you’re in the mood for something unabashedly silly. Its mixture of subtle and outrageous humor won’t click for everyone, but those who enjoy it will find the movie to be a uniquely satisfying watch. Skip it if you’re sensitive to sex or swearing. For a remarkably similar parody of the genre, check out I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. For an even more absurd martial arts spoof, check out Kung Pow!: Enter the Fist.
7.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a fun, clever sense of humor; your score will vary.