IT’S TOUGH TO BE A BLACK HERO.
When Jack Spadeās (Keenen Ivory Wayans) brother dies from an overdose of gold chains, he takes on the gangsters of the city with help from a few veterans. In the director-starās attempt to turn himself into another Mel Brooks, we get an enthusiastic but empty spoof of blaxploitation flicks with the expected sex, violence, tough guys and simpleminded gangster plots. Taking a cue from Airplane! (1980), we have Bernie Casey, Isaac Hayes and Jim Brown acting as if theyāre still in those old movies, and thatās a good thing. But in the end this is too silly and the big laughs are simply not there.
1988-U.S. 87 min. Color.Ā Directed byĀ Keenen Ivory Wayans.Ā Cast:Ā Keenen Ivory Wayans (Jack Spade), Bernie Casey (John Slade), Antonio Fargas (Flyguy), Steve James, Isaac Hayes, Jim Brownā¦ John Vernon, Damon Wayans, Chris Rock.Ā Cameo:Ā Robert Townsend.
Trivia:Ā Fred Williamson was allegedly asked to make an appearance, but declined.
Quote:Ā āYes, we marched on the Federal building. Five hundred of us young brothers, full of outrage. They were hiring that day. The brothers came with guns; they left with jobs. Oh, yes, whitey is very tricky.ā (Clarence Williams III)