Unchained Medley of Blues

Rating: 4/10 (4 March 2007)

Greetings again from the darkness. What to make of the latest from "Hustle and Flow" writer/director Craig Brewer. Hopefully, this one was designed as camp. I see it living on as a cult favorite for midnight movies. I kept waiting for Angie Dickinson to pop up as the town bordello matron! Christina Ricci spends two hours writhing around in her underwear trying to fight off the built-in urges that don't seem to be cured by the cough syrup Samuel L. Jackson borrowed from the pharmacy lady who has a crush on him. Oh, sorry ... forgot to mention much of her writhing occurs while sporting the heavy 50 ft. chain that Mr. Jackson locked around her waist and his radiator as he sets about trying to cure her.
All of this happens while Ricci's true love goes off to join the military. Except he comes back a week later because he gets frightened by loud noises. For that reason alone, one would think he would stay away from Ricci! Sorry again, forgot to mention that the sensitive military failure is played by ultra-sensitive, tough guy wannabe, Justin Timberlake ... who may be the only one who doesn't sing in the film.
Watching and listening to Mr. Jackson play the blues is funny enough in itself, but when he hits the stage to a packed house who view him as the second coming of Robert Johnson ... again, I laughed! Did I mention a preacher shows up a couple of times? First to counsel Ricci about breaking the chains of her evil ways and again for couples counseling after a tearful and shaking Timberlake fails (yet again) to kill Jackson.
This one is definitely not for everyone, as you might guess from the drugs, cursing, boozing, wild sex, assault, kidnapping, bondage, nearly naked people, frequent underwear moments, blues club dance moves and an overabundance of fringe religious bellowing. If you are a bit twisted, you will definitely see the humorous and campy moments and please don't take any of it too seriously. It is just a slight step up from Mr. Jackson's horrible "Snakes on a Plane" ... but the music is much better (except for the singing).