6.6 | / 10 |
Users | 4.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
A parody of a lot of Afro-American movies, for instance "Boyz N the Hood", "South Central", "Menace II Society", "Higher Learning" and "Juice". We follow Ashtray as he returns to the place he grew up in and meet his father and his basket-case friends. A lot of crazy stuff happens, for example, Ashtray is older than his father and his best friend Loc Dog's grandmother is a trigger-happy old lady who blames her eccentric-looking kid for not being tough enough.
Starring: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Tracey Cherelle Jones, Chris Spencer, Suli McCulloughComedy | 100% |
Crime | 30% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080i
Aspect ratio: 1.73:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
None
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region free
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 3.5 | |
Audio | 3.5 | |
Extras | 1.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
One out of every ten black males will be forced to sit through at least one "Growing Up in the Hood" movie in their lifetime. At least one out of
five
will be shot in the theater while watching the movie.
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is one of the finest parodies on the block, a laugh riot with
characters as funny as its script, with situations that are as hilarious as many of the movies it ribs are serious. In fact, it might be one of the last
great parodies before the genre was sideswiped by the influx of cinema's equivalent of cat vomit; movies like Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie suddenly and without mercy took over, dominated,
and threatened to destroy the viable and once-proud cinematic territory that was home to pictures like Spaceballs and Airplane!. Created by the Wayans Brothers -- the same guys
responsible for Scary Movie -- Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking
Your Juice in the Hood takes on 'Hood movies and does so unmercifully, poking fun at the realities of life and the dangers of violence those films
have portrayed to the tune of various awards, nominations, and critical and audience praise. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking
Your Juice in the Hood
isn't concerned with message -- the other films have that covered -- but it does take those rather serious plot lines and turns them into something
that's effortlessly fun and lighthearted, just the sort of balance the 'Hood genre needs.
Wasn't "Crazy Legs" also a G.I. Joe character?
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood looks surprisingly good on Blu-ray, despite coming it at a 1080i resolution. Colors are steadily vibrant throughout; green lawns and multicolored clothes stand out nicely and naturally. The palette is never too dim, and it's never unnaturally warm, either. Fine detail is Blu-ray average, too; facial and clothing textures can be quite good, and more complex elements like sidewalks, paved streets, and even Dashiki's braided hair are nicely revealing. The image retains a bit of grain that seems to fluctuate on occasion, but never does the image look as if its detailing and natural textures have been harshly scrubbed away. Unfortunately, viewers will have to contend with some dirt and white speckles, not to mention light banding and blocky backgrounds, but for the most part this a pleasant, easy-on-the-eyes transfer from Echo Bridge.
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood comes with a routine DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. This presentation is more often than not structurally proficient, but the track doesn't often give it a whole lot to work with outside of a few splashes of increased activity and volume. The Rap tune that opens the movie is suitably crisp, spaced, and supported by a fair low end. Dialogue is generally steady, but there are a couple of instances where it goes unnecessarily tinny and hollow. The track makes good use of a few directional effects; gunfire and several scenes of general commotion and chaos naturally spread around the soundstage to good effect. The surround channels carry a fair share of the music and effects elements, helping to make this a solid, yet not at all extraordinary, soundtrack from Echo Bridge.
This Blu-ray release of Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood features a foursome of throwaway extras.
Big title, bigger laughs. Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is one of the absolute funniest Parodies to come around in quite some time. The script is great, the acting is superior, and the visual gags are outrageous. It all works in perfect harmony and never once deliberately or inadvertently lessens the meaning and impact of the films it has fun with. The gross stereotypes probably won't be everyone's cup of tea, but those who can enjoy the movie and contextually accept it will be rewarded with one of the most purely entertaining and endlessly funny Comedies in some time. This might be Echo Bridge's finest Miramax title yet. Sporting quality video and audio to go along with some actual supplements and a low selling price, this one's a no-brainer. Hurry up and buy!
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Extended Cut
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Director's Cut
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Loaded With Extra Crap Edition
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Unrated Edition
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