Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood

Plot synopsis:
Ashtray (Shawn Wayans), Tray for short, is sent to the inner city to live with his father. Tray gets an education about life on the streets from his psychotic, gun-toting cousin Loc Dog (Marlon Wayans), Preach (Chris Spencer), and Crazy Legs (Suli McCullough). At a picnic Tray falls for the infamous Dashiki (Tracey Cherelle Jones) much to the distaste of ex-convict Toothpick (Darrell Heath). While Ashtray and Loc Dog head to buy some snacks, Toothpick and his posse confront Ashtray and hold him at gunpoint, until Loc Dog threatens them and they flee. Loc Dog and Ashtray get harassed in a Korean store by the owners and Loc Dog shoots at the owners when a remark is made about his mother. The two are then confronted by 'The Man' (a mysterious white, government figure) who kills the Koreans and tosses them his gun to frame them and leaves.
Meanwhile, Ashtray and Loc Dog's Grandma ride to church and another elderly woman disses her, resulting in a breakdancing contest that Grandma wins.
Ashtray visits Dashiki where they engage in sexual intercourse and Tray impregnates Dashiki. Feeling like he's not responsible enough to be the father, Dashiki kicks him out. Someone from Toothpicks posse threatens Ashtray, Loc Dog, Preach, and Crazy Legs. Loc Dog knocks him out as he and Preach proceed to stomp him, flattening him (literally). The quartet decides to get protection from their friend Old School (Antonio Fargas). This tactic fails as Toothpick performs another drive-by and Crazy Legs is injured. With Crazy Legs hospitalized, himself and Loc Dog being arrested, and the Korean store shooting, Tray decides to confront Dashiki and be the father. Dashiki agrees to give Tray another try and they decide to leave the hood as planned. Ashtray and Loc Dog talk about Ashtray's departure as Toothpick and his posse prepare for another drive-by and he and Loc Dog clash as Ashtray flees and trips and is knocked out as Loc and Toothpick continue to shoot at each other. They are saved when Grandma pops out of the dumpster and shoots Toothpick's car as Toothpick is flung out and he lands on a cop car. Preach and Dashiki find Ashtray hurt and he regains consciousness and kisses Dashiki. A woman finds Toothpick (who turns out to be his mother) and beats him with his shoe for stealing from her in the past.
Afterwards, everyone goes their separate ways: Ashtray and Dashiki marry and enjoy their lives, Loc Dog becomes a host and introduces himself with extreme profanity, Preach and his crush settle down and perform sexual intercourse, Crazy Legs becomes a dancer as he had dreamed of, and Grandma is, as Ashtray puts it, "still Grandma" (showing her smoking marijuana).

Tags: comedy, cult, flashback, humor, satire, revenge

Review:
Spoofing practically every "growing up in the hood" movie, "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" is a laugh a minute.
Following the adventures of Ashtray (Shawn Wayans) and Loc Dog (Marlon Wayans) in LA's black ghetto, it's one joke after another - the way that a Mel Brooks or Leslie Nielsen movie is.
You need to have seen most of the movies being parodied in order to see the true depth of the humor in this movie.Absolutely one of my favorite light comedies with "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" and "Half Baked".
i suppose you have to have seen all of the films which they are making fun of to fully appreciate the comedy but once you have seen Menace II Society, Boyz 'n' the Hood, Friday And Higher Learning you will want to watch  this film over and over again.
The main two movies you have to watch first is Menace II Society and Boyz N The Hood.
'Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood' spoofs these two to the max but if you haven't seen these two movies most of this movie will be lost on you.
Shawn and Marlon Wayans, along with director Paris Barclay, have created a very humorous satire of the flood of films recently dealing with African-American life in the ghettos of inner-cities of America.
"Boyz in the Hood" and "Menace II Society" are among the films at which the Wayans brothers poke fun.
"Don't be a Menace..." follows the story of Ashtray(Shawn Wayans) as he wades through a series of episodes in Barclay's "hood."  He lives with his father, who is "only a couple of years older than him."  Among the lessons his father teaches him are:  "No smokin' my shit, no drinkin' my shit, and if you bring any of them hos up in here, make sure I fuck 'em first", and (drinking and driving)"That shit is fun, man!"  No stereotype or politically-correct boundary is too sacred for the Wayans brothers to poke fun at.
Some of the jokes hit, some miss, and the fun will definitely be increased by those who have seen the films that "Don't Be A Menace..." frequently jests.
We weren't laughing at the line so much at the performance of it."Don't Be A Menace" is the most obvious collection of predictable gags and bits I have seen in a long time, but it is by far the funniest.
The Wayans are rather stuck - the genres they parody here have very rigid conventions, so much so that there is usually only one or two gags one can use to mock them - e.g., when a young gangsta warns us that many young men in the 'hood don't live to see their 21st birthday, we all know what's coming next.
Thus we laugh with them, appreciating the way they pull it off, and recognizing the gangsta genre limit that's getting parodied, rather than at the bit itself.Just about the whole movie operates on this level, and for this reason has become one of my favorite comedies.
The tempo could have been a little swifter, but the rhythm itself is excellent.Comedy like this is very tricky, and I personally didn't think the Wayans' efforts in the "Scary Movie" films were quite as successful - but here they move it right along.It's rude, it's crude, it's in-yor-face - and it's just a delight to watch..
Besides having a title that is funny in itself, Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood is one of the funniest movies this decade.
It spoofs such black films as Boyz N' Tha Hood, Dead Presidents, Juice, Menace II Society, and South Central with such hilarity that you'll be repeating its many classic lines over and over again for months.
Wayans brothers who started on In Living Clor and made the hilarious 1988 movie I'm Gonn Git U Sucka do it again with this long overdue spoof of movie that are extremely serious.
It feels good you know hmmmmmmmmmm....Well seriously, this film for some reason other than being a spoof and having the same actors as Scary Movie, gets compared to the aforementioned film.
Like most spoof movies, it won't be funny if you don't know what is being made fun of.If either of these things are true, see this movie.
But I got so much more.This parody of movies such as "Menace II Society" Boyz N Da Hood" and "Dead Presidents" was funny as hell.
Great movie, I saw it when i was around 14 it played on Portuguese TV, I didn't knew its name but i kept searching all this years, finally i got it and watched it again, same fun.
I find it a very smart, lively and audacious caricature/satire of hood life, all the stereotypes exaggerated and pointed out in a very straight fashion, straight and real enough to hurt many "sensitive" feelings, not every scene in the movie is hilarious some are not so funny, but it is made in such a relaxed and flowing atmosphere that everything is fine is all good.Music is excellent and it has many quality details from the production creating the right atmosphere.
Well I loved this movie and I wish they would make more of this kind, at the same time it is a surreal or a nonsense comedy it has very deep meaning on it and it can look so real, because reality is so much like this, day to day life is not full of drama, its more full of comedy, and full of crazy and superficial characters somehow similar to the ones on this movie.
They seem to be the only ones who can do what Zucker used to: serve up what are generally called spoofs.I think it is because they start knowing that the target isn't bits of movies, but the bits we use in inventing the stories of who we are.Ted's Evaluation -- 3 of 3: Worth watching..
It probably would have helped if I'd seen all (or at least some) of the movies that this parodies, but as it stands, DON'T BE A MENACE is consistently funny enough on its own.
From the Wayans' Brothers, DON'T BE A MENACE parodies/spoofs just about every "hood" movie from the 90's, like BOYZ N THE HOOD, MENACE 2 SOCIETY, etc.
The most pivotal, gritty, and shocking scenes from hood movies, the ones that defined the genre and changed the way Americans thought about cinema and society, are spoofed mercilessly from the preachy Ice-Cube monologue at the end of Boyz in the Hood to the Asian convenience store in the beginning of Menace II Society...This movie has gotten shockingly bad reviews but I imagine these people have never seen hood films.
it is a film to enjoyFrom the opening comment spoofing the Boyz intro ("one out of every ten black males will be forced to sit through at least one growing up in the hood movie in their lifetimes") to the ending scene, you will be in pain from the laughter this film will ensue if you have grown up watching hood films.This movie is one giant stereotype which people might pick at, but that is ultimately the point.
As long as you've seen "Boyz in the Hood" "Menace to Society" "Dead Presidents" and "Poetic Justice" you will think this movie is one of the best comedy spoofs ever.
It had me laughing inside of a couple of minutes and I kept it up to the end.It's a tremendous spoof of "'Hood films." It takes every cliche in the book and kicks its metaphorical head in!I'd recommend this.
There are also some jabs at "Boyz N the Hood."  There are some genuinely funny moments that I will always cherish:  Bernie Mac's cameo as the black cop who hates anything and anybody black, Suli McCullough as the wheelchair bound Crazy Legs doing his MC Hammer "U Can't Touch This" number, the "Hurry Up and Buy!" scene at the convenience store, Loc Dog (Marlon Wayans) applying for a job at the DMV.
Even if you haven't seen the movies that it is spoofed from it will still be a good time!.
I thought it was hilarious!The Wayans Brothers take off movies so well.I thought this was a fabulous take off of all the hood movies.All the jokes were very smart, original and funny.The acting was good.
They made a really good parody of all the hood characters.I felt some characters were too over the top though, but nothing that bad.I'm sure anyone will find this funny, but only if they've seen some of the hood movies.
It is a spoof on movies like 'Boyz N the Hood' and 'Menace II Society', two great movies about the hoods in Los Angeles.'Don't Be a Menace' starts pretty nice, although stupid, with some very funny moments.
It is an intensely funny film, very raunchy and one of those silly movies that have no redeeming value except for the laughs, but please people from other lands and cultures please do not take this as a repensenation of the black culture in America, I mean I as a black person would be very unhappy if I went to Russia and someone thought that they could call me a name of get my phone number by holding a gun to my head.
It also helps if you have seen the films 'Don't be a menace to society' 'Juice' and 'Boys in the hood'.
This is THE most hilarious film I have ever seen, the way that the Wayans brothers used spoofs of films such as, Boyz in tha Hood, Menace to Society, Juice, Higher Learning and a few others is complete genius, I personally can't wait for their next film 'Scream if You Know What I Did Last Halloween'.
This movie is one of the funniest I have seen in a long time, with some very memorable quotes and scenes.I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend it to anyone who wants a good laugh..
This is well worth watching, I laughed all the way through and I have not done that for a long time.I highly recommend it.yes it is a bit borderline between comedy and what is considered acceptable but thats why it was so funny, laugh at the sick jokes, howl at the appropriate sound effects during the 'sex scene' and just enjoy the film for what it is..
The humor is based on how dumb people act, like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, except not as good and dealing with violence and "The 'Hood."It's a silly movie, but if you're a teen, or on that level, and think teens in the 'Hood doing silly things is funny, you have to see it.
makes fun of a lot of movies and pop culture trends, and you don't have to have seen all the movies referred to (including poetic justice, higher learning, Menace II society, boyz 'n the hood, juice, jungle fever).
The other comment under this movie said that it was not funny because he/she was not black and did not come from the hood.
Well, I am not black and I do not come from the hood, and I have not even seen all the movies they are targeting here, but I thought it was hilarious.
This movie may not appeal to many if you havent seen the others that they are spoofs of...i.e. Menace to Society,South Central,Juice or Boyz in the hood.
No doubt as the less talented Wayans brothers starred, wrote and produced the film they were entirely blind to their lack of talent.Menace consists of a series of unfunny, one joke skits.
I thought that a 9 was okay, but I'll stick with 10, and if you haven't seen this movie yet, rent it, buy it, wait 'til television show it, but, see it, you won't be regret.When you see it, you're gonna like it a lot...
Then you'll get back home, then you'll watch the movie again, then you're gonna sleep laughing and all.Lotta funny!See it!.
Movies like BoyZ In Da Hood, Juice,Higher Learning, Menace II Society and other graced the silver screanprompting gang violence all over the country.
It was time to paradythese films.The problem with this movie was NOT the fact that it wasn't funny.
It has to be one of the funniest comedies I have seen, taking a humorous view of life in the 'hood' it is a spoof of the dramas such as 'Boys in the hood' and you may find it to be similar to the 'Friday' series starring Ice Cube (but funnier!).
The famously funny Wayans brothers star in this film as Ash Tray and Loc Dog, both trying to work their way out of the hood.
To give this movie an overall 6.5 is a disgrace both to the wayans bro's and comedy lovers all around the world at least an 8 8.5 minimum I really don't think anyone can name me a movie that is even remotely as funny or as good as this one.
If you love quirky comedy than this movie is definitely for you I recommend it and so does my brother after watching menace 2 society ( which is the movie this movie is based upon) I really did have a true understanding of it but didn't really matter cause it was funny either way.
From Loc Dog's swearing at Grandma, to white cops playing a Rodney King computer game, it keeps the jokes coming.If you haven't seen the films that this one parodies then get them out and watch this one after.
Some people did not like how the writers were toward some of the subject matter but I don't really get into all that when I watch a movie, especially a comedy.
It does just what a good comedy should do and that is it keeps you laughing all the way through the movie..
However, I have seen such movies as "Boyz In The Hood", "South Central", "Higher Learning", and "Juice".
This is a funny, well targeted, affectionate spoof of hood movies and black stereotypes.
The first couple of 'gangsta' films like "Boyz N' the Hood" and "Menace to Society" made a strong, dramatic point about life, but the genre got old with the countless imitators.
The problem is that Wayans and consorts not only try satirize the typical 'ghetto' culture, they also belittle valid statements that are made in urban movies such as Boyz 'n' the Hood or Menace II Society.
I don't know whether this didn't appeal to me because I don't live in "da hood", or if I'm not black, but it's probably one of the two.It tries to spoof a few movies, only coming up with a couple of laughs, but in the long run it fails miserably.
The movie is full of parodistic jokes referring to other, more serious, hood-films (eg.
Boyz N The Hood, Poetic Justice, Menace 2 Society) plus there's a nice amount of good old Wayans-brothers humour.
But (there's always a but), if you haven't seen any hood-films, don't like them or so, you won't probably laugh during this film at all.
This movie, is pure comic genius.Spoofing everything from 'Boyz In The 'Hood' to 'Menace To Society' to 'Juice', 'Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood' is one of the funniest comedies to be invented.Shawn plays a virginal black boy who is sent to live with his only-one-year-older dad in the rough confines of the 'Hood.
There, his cousin (Marlon) shows him the way of life in the 'Hood.The dialogue is quick, funny and over the top that plays off the impressive sight gags.If you loved Scary Movie, Airplane!
Very hilarious ripping on how stupid ghetto life really is.If you are black you probably won't like this movie, but nonetheless it is a great laughter filled story, second to only Friday- for ghetto comedies.
I liked this movie (not as much as the Wayans future project Scary Movie) because of it's funny jokes on past gangsta movies.
I would also like to point out that I've seen boys n the hood, menace II society and juice - that doesn't stop this film being awful.
I had only seen Boyz N the Hood by the time I saw this movie, nonetheless I found the movie hilarious!!
comedy movies ever i'll watch it again and again and will never get tired of it i recommend it for the people who didn't watch it yet you should defintly see it it's a very fun movie and a very good spoof of "Boyz N The Hood".
This is probably the best Spoof i have ever seen it made me laugh soo much, the wayans brothers are absolute geniuses they made a winner with the scary movie films and they made a winner right here unfortunately it wasn't as big as it should've been but one hell of a spoof none the less.
`Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood' is an hilarious take on all the hood type movies and surprising it does come off really funny.
The only thing that helps is if you've seen the movies that this is parodying, and then you should certainly have no problem finding this film hilarious.
`Scary Movie 1 & 2' clearly have borrowed the mold from `Don't Be A Menace' More films should be as funny as this one.
This film perfectly spoofs all the popular 'hood' movies such as 'Boyz In Tha Hood', 'Menace II Society' and 'Juice'.
Like 'Scary Movie', also starring the Wayans brothers Marlon and Shawn, it's the type of film where you have to watch the films that it is spoofing, so it is understandable why some people don't get some of the jokes.