Too much ...

Rating: Null/10 (3 September 2005)

First, let me say, this film is very funny. It had the potential to be one of the great comedies in recent times. But it also had it's shortcomings that for me, and I'm sure for others, were too much to overlook.
Now, I am not over sensitive and I can take a joke. But, did anyone else feel that the black stereotypes were overdone, and the amount of them was overkill, especially considering that there was only one significant black character? I mean, it was fine after the first hit ... even the second and third. The movie poked it's fun at everyone. But the black stereotypes just kept coming, and they weren't funny.
Every other character in the film was new and hilarious. The writing for them was fresh and funny. But when it came to the black character it got very stereotypical. The actor who played the role did a very good job with the material he was given. But I'm sure, at times, he had to feel like the other guys got to be funny and have new material, and he was just there to be a platform for all of the same "black jokes" the writers wanted to get away with.
Again, I wanted to let it go. The film was so funny in other parts, and even had more of a story than I expected. But they just laid it on too thick by the end. There was one scene, near the end, where the black guy was selling a stereo to a black customer. It wasn't funny. It added nothing to the story. It was just two black guys being stereotypical using the "n" word in an argument for no apparent reason. The scene was gratuitous and out of place, and it was the last straw for me.
Hollywood either needs to bring in black writers for these characters, or the white writers need to dig a little deeper. Their work would be much funnier, deeper, more dramatic ... just much better if they took the time to look past the caricatures that they see in other films and on television. Talk to some black people for goodness sakes. If not, don't write for "black people". Just write for human beings. (Black actors can handle those roles too.) Or if you want to use racial humor, be creative and give these characters the same depth and thought that you give your other characters. You know? {END OF RANT}
Despite these things, the movie was funny. I can't recommend it because I'm tired of seeing the previously stated issues in films. So, I'm not looking to send it support. So, yes, if you see it you will laugh. But you'll laugh just as much if you see it on cable.
Also, if you're thinking about bringing your kids, don't. There is much more adult humor in it then I expected, even for the subject matter. That's just a heads up for parents.