Pootie Tang (2001)

Pootie Tang pushes blaxploitation to the point of surrealism. The title character--who first appeared on The Chris Rock Show--speaks a kind of slang on steroids, an incomprehensible stream of nonsense syllables that nonetheless makes him irresistible to women and a threat to evildoers everywhere. Pootie is part movie star, part superhero, righting wrongs with the slap of his daddy's belt. But when an evil corporation uses a super-ho named Ireenie (Jennifer Coolidge from Best in Show and Legally Blonde) to steal this magic belt, Pootie must find himself again. In the title role, Lance Crouther glides through the movie like Isaac Hayes's skinny younger brother, while Chris Rock lends his trademark bark to multiple roles, including Pootie's father. Crazed editing and a great soundtrack give Pootie Tang a little extra oomph. A bizarre comedy, likely to develop a cult following. Cameos by Missy Elliot and Bob Costas. --Bret Fetzer Amazon.com

Just say no nay to formula

Unforgettable! I was stunned with my mouth open through the whole thing. Pootie walks on air from beginning to end. Luckily there's no acting here (except for Bob Costas who's perfectly terrible at it). There's no Hollywood formula; in fact, no formula. If it were a polished movie it would be idiotic and would give away all its honesty. It's a Chris Rock thing. Kid-like honesty with a brutal punch. A morality play about morality and it succeeds, I think, in giving a silly trashing to the simplistic morality constantly thrown at blacks (and others) while doing it so innocently it doesn't ever have to admit to any manipulation or blaxploitation. At the same time it turns that black music-video culture into looking at itself and maybe frees it from the resistant aspect which seems designed to appear impenetrable to those external moral demands and judgments. As Jung said, "What you resist, persists." This kid's regressing to speaking in tongues. A pidgin language is a simple language which arises between two groups of people who don't speak the same language. Pootie's pidgin is a start that many of us might agree on. Whether your reaction is "sepatown" or "sa da tay", if you don't get a laugh out of it, this movie's for you. July 17, 2008

One of my favorite comedy movies.

This is a movie that you really have to understand to enjoy. It employs a distinct style of humor that I find funny. The way that Pootie beats up people (like Dirty D and Bad Biddy) with his piggly wiggly belt, is absolutely hilarious. This is really one of those movies that some people will hate and others will love. I thought that that it had a unique story with fascinating characters. If you like movies like "How High", "Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle", "Next Friday", and "The Pest," then I think you will like this movie as well. It really has a cartoon-esque feel to it that I definitely enjoyed. I have watched this movie at least 10 times and I am still not sick of it. June 19, 2008

CLASSIC!

MAN! I love this movie! I watch it all the time. I think you have to have a certain sense of humor to appreciate it, though! February 13, 2008

Wa Da Ta My Main Damies

Ahhh yeah. This one is a cold tappy. Round the crowny and sine your pity on the runny kine...cause you're gonna want to kappa town on the down tinies. Sa Da Tae. February 12, 2008

Seriously? 3.5 Stars!? I don't even want to give it 1!

What the hell is wrong with you people!? The funniest part of the movie is at the end where Bob Costas doesn't understand Pootie and Pootie has to repeat himself, and I think I only laughed because I was so desperate to laugh at SOMETHING! I was like a man who had treaded through the Sahara with no water and was willing to swig motor oil and spit it out because my mouth was dry. I don't see how you can make a worse movie than this, or how anyone can find it funny unless you're the kind of person that thinks your poo is hilariously shaped and looks like Elvis. If you want a GOOD stupid and funny movie, then please rent Dumb and Dumber or Undercover Brother or Napoleon Dynamite. November 10, 2007

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