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Rating: 4.25 out of 5
Dynamite! Dynamite! I remember the first time I saw Black Dynamite. I was baffled about what was happening and why it was so crazy. I called my mom and said I had just watched a film called Black Dynamite, and she started to burst into laughter. She said it was a crazy movie but also fun to watch. The film reminded her of the blaxploitation era with Pam Grier and everyone else. My brother even had the cartoon series, which is even more insane. Black Dynamite versus Mr. Rogers is insane to watch. I have to give it up to Michael Jai White. He delivered a film that was hilarious and fun to watch.
Directed by Scott Sanders and co-written by White, Sanders, and Byron Minns, Black Dynamite is a parody that pays homage to the blaxploitation genre and its era. In the 1970s, Black Dynamite (White) is a LEGEND! He is a Vietnam War veteran, former CIA officer, and kung fu master. Black Dynamite’s life changes when his younger brother Jimmy is killed by a shady organization led by the Man. Black Dynamite vows to clean up the streets of drug dealers and gangsters. Black Dynamite is suddenly attacked, and he shows off some crazy kung-fu skills. It is revealed that O’Leary, Black Dynamite’s former army and CIA partner, has him reinstated because the government doesn’t want him seeking revenge alone. While trying to get to the bottom of Jimmy’s murder, Black Dynamite discovers that the Man and his organization have been filling the black orphanages with heroin. As Black Dynamite cleans up the streets, he soon finds that the malt liquor has some awful side effects and that the ringleader goes all the way up to the top.
First, the story is wild and hilarious. This might be a parody of the blaxploitation era, but it was so fun to watch that it will make you laugh. The story has the Man and his shady organization who is harming the black community. Things get crazy as this movie goes along. People attack Black Dynamite out of nowhere dressed up as a wheel of cheese. Malt liquor called Anaconda does awful things to men’s Johnson’s. Figuring out the malt liquor was crazy because the characters hit Greek mythology and went all over the place. They have a pimp meeting, which must be added for some reason. Hell, Black Dynamite even goes to Kung Fu Island to fight his old nemesis, Fiendish Dr. Wu, who is responsible for creating the secret formula found in Anaconda Malt Liquor. The first lady is straight-up pimp-slapped. This movie is insane all the way around, and I freakin love it.
What also makes this movie enjoyable is the cinematography. It was shot in Super 16 format and has that classic blaxploitation look and feel. The camera work is fun because it gets close to characters or hangs on characters’ faces a little too long. When a mistake happens, you can tell it was reshot. When Bullhorn slapped that Man and the dude became pissed, they reshot it with a different person. The camera work was all over the place with this film, and was enjoyable.
I have to give it up to Michael Jai White because he brought this character to life. White was perfect as Black Dynamite. He brought enough crazy acting, coolness, and charm to the role, making you want to be like Black Dynamite. Hell, there were times he was even over the top with his acting, especially when it came to the kung-fu parts of the film.
The supporting cast dramatically adds to this film. As my mom says, it seemed like the film hired every black person in town who needed a job, and I love it because you try to name everyone. I have to give some love to Byron Minns as “Bullhorn.” Minns manages to rhyme his lines throughout the whole film. That takes major talent right there. Where the hell has Tommy Davidson been? He was hilarious as “Cream Corn.” Really, your name had to be Cream Corn.
Black Dynamite is an AWESOME film that every black person should watch. After watching it, watch some Foxy Brown and Coffy. Michael Jai White was fantastic in this role, and we are all still waiting on the sequel.
