MALIBU'S MOST WANTED (2003)

Directed By: John Whitesell Written By: Fax Bahr, Jamie Kennedy, Nick Swardson & Adam Small Cinematography By: Mark Irwin Editor: Cara Silverman Cast: Jamie Kennedy, Taye Diggs, Anthony Anderson, Damien Dante Wayans, Regina Hall, Blair Underwood, Ryan O’Neal, Bo Derek, Jeffrey Tambor, Kal Penn, Nick Swardson, Greg Grenberg, Snoop Dogg, Niecy Nash, Terry Crews, Sarah Thompson, Mike Epss, Troy Kittles Brad Gluckman (Kennedy) is a wannabe rap star from Malibu who acts and talks like he's from the "'hood." Concerned that his son is going to embarrass him during his campaign to become the governor of California, Brad's wealthy father and his campaign manager (Underwood), hire two trained actors (Diggs and Anderson) to disguise themselves as "real life gangstaz", and kidnap his son, dropping him off in the "real hood" in Compton, in an effort to scare the ghettofied attitude and behavior out of him The film has a far too respectable cast considering the talent involved this seems like a quick cash in on a phenomenon at the time. Making fun of a certain character obsessed with a culture that is not his own. And can’t see how ridiculous he is. Then truly finding themselves through it. This would have been a high concept film int eh 80’s and probably a minor hit. Jamie keened and half the actors seem a little long in the tooth for their roles. Which automatically takes you out of the film. The film has some great one liners and good ideas that are good individually but don’t come together to make a good whole. Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson make a good duo playing a little known cliché and making them so over the top yet hilarious. That only seemed to be used on IN LIVING COLOR and the film HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE. If the film had them as the main stars the product might have come off better. The direction seems sloppy and economy passable but mistaken and mistepped on several points and a certain clarity. The film has a cast full of up and coming comedic talent who don’t have much to do as the roles are so small they barely are noticed. Considering what they would achieve maybe they should have been allowed to be more part of the film. Might have made it a bit better. They are good as they can be given what they have been handed. That goes for the veteran cast also. It’s a star vehicle for Jamie Kennedy who has a goofy charm unfortunately while he is creating a comic character the supporting ones are just more interesting. His creations feel like that creations not living breathing human beings. This is a extension of a character he played on his hidden camera prank show X’d he hosted and after this film he embarked on a career as a stand-up and created a reality show following him trying to become a white rapper only as himself. Skip It. GRADE: D+