A wacky sense of humor runs in the Wayans family, and their latest movie, “Dance Flick,” directed by Damien Dante Wayans proved it.
A wacky sense of humor runs in the Wayans family, and their latest movie, “Dance Flick,” directed by Damien Dante Wayans proved it.
The movie is a parody dance film from some of the most popular dance films: “Flash Dance,” “Stomp the Yard,” “Save the Last Dance,” “Step Up,” “You Got Served,” “Roll Bounce,” “Hairspray” and dramatic films like “Ray” and “Crossover.”
Besides the Wayans cast (Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Craig Wayans, Damon Wayans Jr., Kim Wayans and the previously mentioned director, Damien Dante Wayans), “Dance Flick” also stars some well-known comedians and actors like MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out” Affion Crockett, David Alan Grier, Ellia English (from “The Jamie Foxx Show”), Essence Atkins (from UPN’s “Half & Half”) and Tichina Arnold.
The dominant plot is based around “Save the Last Dance” with Thomas (played by Damon Wayans Jr.) and Megan (played by Shoshana Bush) trying to reach their dreams of dancing, and the “You Got Served” plot comes in with Thomas’ character trying to escape a big boss he owes money to. A-Con (played by Affion Crockett) is his dance partner and sidekick.
The most ironic part of the whole movie was that although the cast was supposed to be funny doing this dance flick, a lot of them really could dance. There were some scenes that seemed more like “Wild ‘N Out” than a parody film of people who were supposed to dance badly. For someone who can naturally dance, it’s harder to fake like you can’t dance than vice versa, and Crockett would be a prime example. And every major cast member danced better than the terribly sappy film “Save the Last Dance.”
“Dance Flick” is rated PG-13, but it definitely walks the line of R-rated films. There are plenty of dirty-minded jokes, like a camel toe beatboxing and breasts drooping while doing the “jacking” dance. There were also some jokes that would’ve been tasteless if they weren’t pulled off so well, like Halle Berry’s car accident (but in true Wayans’ humor fashion, she runs out of the car as Catwoman), Brandy’s car accident (lightened up with an officer ciphering gas), private parts being compared to rapper Jay-Z’s lips, and a strict dance instructor gawking at girls during an audition with comments like: “Are you going to keep the baby?” and “I have tampons bigger than you.”
If you don’t have the slapstick humor that it takes to handle a Wayans’ family movie, this isn’t the film for you. But if you enjoy mindless comedy with naughty humor and wacky scenes, this is the film you should rush out and see.
I laughed far more than I thought I would and expected the movie to be way less funny than it was, so I’d give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.
______
Copyright 2009 Chicago Defender. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.