After checking out one of the original "episodes" it appears that the movie version has been tamed down a bit for mass consumption. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I have to candidly admit that my funny bone has never been overly tickled by the South Park/Ren & Stimpy type of humor. The animated Undercover Brother more closely resembles these examples of the comedic genre than its does the more sophisticated "Simpson's" variety.
The movie version is a spoof of the blaxploitation films of the 70's and, for the most part, is a well executed comedic take-off. The quality of the performances are more than adequate and the costumes are "groovy".
That being said, Undercover Brother, is not "Scary Movie". While
some of the gags in Undercover Brother are truly hilarious, there are too few of them, and some become tiring. The animated shorts, the movie is based upon, are 3-4 minutes vignettes. As with many of the SNL type movies, the transition from sketch into a full length feature film, is not entirely successful.
It is also apparent, early on, that the movie has its own hidden agenda to promote black pride and equality. In that regard, it is an equal opportunity offender, taking numerous pokes at black/white stereotypes. Mary Poppins would say that a teaspoon of sugar helps the medicine go down but its still medicine you have to swallow. This mixing of themes undermines the movie in the same way that the dumbing down of nuclear annihilation undermined "The Sum of all Fears". The saving grace, for Undercover Brother, is that in the end it remembers not to take itself too seriously.
The credits, by the way, contains two extra clips you may want to stick around and watch.
While Undercover Brother ultimately underwhelms it relatively "solid" entertainment.
Movie Web site (Flash 6 required):
http://www.undercover-brother.com/index.html
alternate reviews:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/759530.asp?0si=-&cp1=1
http://www.canoe.ca/JamMoviesReviewsU/undercoverbro_slotek-sun.html
http://www.urbanentertainment.com/2/animation.asp?type_id=49&cat_id=52&cat_type=Animation&aff_id=2
