Review: White Chicks (2004)

Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans | 97 minutes | comedy, crime | Actors: Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Anne Dudek, Maitland Ward, Brittany Daniel, Jamie King, Busy Philipps, Terry Crews, Jessica Cauffiel, Jennifer Carpenter

The movie “White Chicks” was born from the minds of the Wayans brothers. Earlier comedies by the acting and directing brothers have met with not sweet critics from critics. Their two “Scary Movie” films were destroyed by the (inter) national press. The humor the brothers use is rather flat, easy and gross. The Farelly brothers have proven that this form of humor does not necessarily have to count on bad reviews with their films (Theres something about Mary (1998), Dumb and Dumber (1994)). The power of a comedy lies in the characters, in short appealing characters and not so much the form of humor that is used. It is precisely the lack of good characters that again kills this production of the Wayans.

“White Chicks” is a blatant copy of previous (genre) films with the same theme, such as “Big Momma’s House” (2000) and “Mrs. Doubtfire ‘(1993). The director makes no effort to rise above the competition. after all: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Unfortunately, the formula of such films has long been worked out. What remains is a stew full of clichés, homophobic jokes and easy-going plot lines.

The film’s biggest flaw is character development. No character develops into a likeable character. Because as a viewer you cannot or do not want to identify with any character, the events on the screen leave you cold. All characters are stupid, selfish or mean. These cardboard, hysterical stereotypes get so on the nerves that it is disturbing. All the well-known and worn-out clichés pass by, the stupid blondes, the big and broad homosexual, the conceited stars and a smoking dork. That is no problem as long as the characters are portrayed nicely. It is precisely in the game of the cast that things go wrong. The undercover brothers’ girlfriends are actually just as dumb and mean as their rivalries.

The jokes are pretty flat. The so-called poo and pee humor is completely applicable to this film. Apparently the director thought it was hilarious. How else can you explain why a toilet scene full of farts is stretched for so long? The jokes about men who want to pick up the dressed up brothers also return continuously. All of the humor from the film has been copied from previous productions.

Finally, it must also be said that the grime that Marlon and Shawn Wayans is so incredibly bad, that it immediately affects the entire credibility of the film. As two Michael Jackson clones, the brothers have to pass for look-a-likes from two fashion models. If the brothers now saw for themselves that their metamorphoses had failed and made fun of it, there might still be something to laugh about. Unfortunately. The forced happy ending and moralistic undertone do the print no good either. Wayans haters are likely to face tough times now that they have tapped into a new franchise after Scary Movie. The inevitable sequels will already be filmed.