Rating: PG13
Genre:
Comedy
Theatrical Release: 05/31/2002(USA)
Release Date: 01/14/2003
SubTitles: Espanol
Dubbed: English/French
Sound: DD5.1/DTS
Run Time: 87 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Adult Humor, Profanity
Distributor/Studio: Universal Studios
Undercover Brother began life as an animated series on the Internet. The satirical cartoon was created by novelist and screenwriter
John Ridley (
Three Kings) for the website
urbanentertainment.com.
Ridley wrote the screenplay with
Michael McCullers, co-writer of the
Austin Powers sequels, and it was directed by
Malcolm D. Lee (
Spike Lee's cousin, and the writer/director of
The Best Man). The film stars
Eddie Griffin (of TV's
Malcolm and Eddie) as
Undercover Brother, he of the gold Cadillac convertible and huge Afro, who uses gadgets and disguises to steal from the rich and give to the poor. His activities are discovered by the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., a spy organization devoted to subverting
The Man (
Robert Trumbull) and his henchman,
Mr. Feather (
Chris Kattan), who use their power over the media to demean black people and destroy racial unity. The spy organization is run by
The Chief (
Chi McBride), who is constantly screaming at his subordinates. They include
Sistah Girl (
Aunjanue Ellis), a beautiful martial artist,
Conspiracy Brother (
Dave Chappelle), who sees white supremacist plots everywhere, and
Smart Brother (
Gary Anthony Williams, who provided the voice of
Undercover Brother in the cartoon), who supplies the operatives with gadgets and information. When a popular black political figure,
General Boutwell (
Billy Dee Williams), calls a press conference, presumably to announce his presidential candidacy, and instead announces that he's opening a chain of fried chicken restaurants, the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. rightly suspects foul play, and recruits
Undercover Brother to look into it. He goes undercover as an uptight buppie to work for
The Man, but his cover is soon blown, and the seductive
White She Devil (
Denise Richards) is sent in to use her feminine wiles to destroy
Undercover Brother.
~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
;)
