Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 04/04/2003(USA)
Release Date: 09/09/2003
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD5.1
Run Time: 84 min
Flags: Strong Sexual Content, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Drug Content
Distributor/Studio: Miramax
Comedian
Eddie Griffin delivers a set of his outrageous
standup comedy and introduces his fans to the family who helped inspire his work in this
documentary. In
DysFunKtional Family,
Griffin talks about race, sex, cats, dogs, slavery, terrorism,
Michael Jackson, and several of the more eccentric members of his family during a sold-out live show. In between bits,
Griffin takes us on a tour of his home town of Kansas City, where we get to meet his mother, who has a remarkable enthusiasm for corporal punishment; his uncle, who discusses his remarkable enthusiasm for pornography; and another uncle, who proved to be an invaluable help to
Griffin's early career despite his drug habit and career as a pimp.
DysFunKtional Family was directed by
George Gallo, who previously worked with
Griffin on the
comedy Double Take.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Up to this point,
Eddie Griffin's film resumé hadn't exactly screamed quality. His talent is undeniable, but it took his autobiographical concert film,
DysFunktional Family, to show just how riotously funny he can really be. Picking up the mantle where
Richard Pryor left off and the once funny
Eddie Murphy after that,
Griffin pulls no
comedic punches with his racially fumed, fierce act. To be sure, this is raw material through and through -- but what's different here is the extraordinary personal family arc which shines through not only his performance, but in the scenes filmed during a brief visit back to his home in Kansas City. Dysfunctionality came into the media spotlight during the heyday of daytime
talk TV, but rarely would a family like
Griffin's ever get this kind of attention. All characters in their own right, most of
Griffin's material comes straight from his hilariously eclectic family members, who together make up the different parts of his acidic sense of humor. Who can argue that his raunchy focus on sex doesn't come from his uncle who doubles as an amateur
pornographic actor? In fact, kudos goes out to
Griffin and crew for devising such a backbone for a
standup comedy film -- it not only delivers heaps of laughs, but a ton of heart in the process.
~ Jeremy Wheeler, All Movie Guide
;)
