IT’S TOUGH TO BE A BLACK HERO.

When Jack Spade’s (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-star’s 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 they’re still in those old movies, and that’s 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. Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans. Cast: Keenen Ivory Wayans (Jack Spade), Bernie Casey (John Slade), Antonio Fargas (Flyguy), Steve James, Isaac Hayes, Jim Brown… John Vernon, Damon Wayans, Chris Rock. Cameo: Robert Townsend.

Trivia: Fred Williamson was allegedly asked to make an appearance, but declined.

Quote: “Yes, 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.” (Clarence Williams III)

IMDb