SCREEN IT! PARENTAL REVIEW: UNDERCOVER BROTHER

"UNDERCOVER BROTHER"
(2002) (Eddie Griffin, Chris Kattan) (PG-13)

Alcohol/ Drugs	Blood/Gore	Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude	Frightening/ Tense Scenes	Guns/ Weapons
Heavy	Heavy	Heavy	*Minor	Heavy

Imitative Behavior	Jump Scenes	Music (Scary/Tense)	Music (Inappropriate)	Profanity
Moderate	None	Mild	Minor	Heavy

Sex/ Nudity	Smoking	Tense Family Scenes	Topics To Talk About	Violence
Heavy	Mild	None	Mild	*Extreme

QUICK TAKE:: Comedy: A cool throwback from the '70s joins an underground organization determined to stop the villainous The Man from whitewashing black culture.

PLOT:

Ever since the 1960s and '70s, black culture has gone downhill, all thanks to the efforts of The Man to whitewash America. As a result, an underground organization known as The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. - led by The Chief (CHI McBRIDE) and his top assistants, Sistah Girl (AUNJANUE ELLIS), Conspiracy Brother (DAVID CHAPPELLE), Smart Brother (GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS) and lily-white intern Lance (NEIL PATRICK HARRIS) - is constantly striving to thwart The Man's various efforts.

His latest - thanks to the work of his minion Mr. Feather (CHRIS KATTAN) - is to use a mind control substance to brainwash all black people. Of course, they need an agent to deliver the substance and so use former Defense Secretary and war hero, General Warren Boutwell (BILLY DEE WILLIAMS). Once a leading Presidential candidate, Boutwell is now under the control of The Man and is subjecting America's black population to the mind control drug via the offerings at his various fried chicken outlets.

Needing to figure out what's happened to Boutwell, The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. enlists the aid of Undercover Brother (EDDIE GRIFFIN), a Robin Hood sort of character straight from the '70s who's been working on his own to help out the subservient black masses. Although he and Sistah Girl initially don't get along, they set out to uncover The Man's plan, which involves Undercover Brother posing as Anton Jackson, a whitewashed black man.

As he gets closer to the truth, The Man unleashes "the black man's kryptonite" in the form of Penelope Snow a.k.a. White She Devil (DENISE RICHARDS), who immediately bedazzles Undercover Brother. From that point on, the members of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. try to break him from the white girl's spell, find The Man's lair, and put an end to his actions.

WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?: If they're fans of someone in the cast or are into period-based spoofs similar in theme to the "Austin Powers" movies, they just might.

WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: PG-13: For language, sexual humor, drug content and campy violence.

CAST AS ROLE MODELS:: EDDIE GRIFFIN plays a cool, jive-talking throwback from the '70s who works like Robin Hood in freeing the black masses from white oppression. Hired by The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. to find and stop The Man from whitewashing black culture, he ends up trapped in white America and under the spell of Penelope. He fights various people, uses some profanity and apparently sleeps with Penelope.
CHRIS KATTAN plays The Man's minion who carries out his boss's orders to whitewash black culture, but constantly finds himself subconsciously enjoying that which he's supposed to destroy. He occasionally fights with Undercover Brother.
DENISE RICHARDS plays a voluptuous woman sent by "The Man" to sidetrack Undercover Brother from his mission. They apparently sleep together (off screen) and she fights with Sistah Brother, but eventually comes around to the cause. She uses some profanity.
DAVID CHAPPELLE plays Conspiracy Brother who's determined there's a white conspiracy behind every problem with black America. He uses some profanity, some of which is strong.
AUNJANUE ELLIS plays one of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents who initially doesn't get along with Undercover Brother or Penelope (with whom she fights). She also uses some profanity.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; CHRIS KATTAN plays The Man's minion who carries out his boss's orders to whitewash black culture, but constantly finds himself subconsciously enjoying that which he's supposed to destroy. He occasionally fights with Undercover Brother.
DENISE RICHARDS plays a voluptuous woman sent by "The Man" to sidetrack Undercover Brother from his mission. They apparently sleep together (off screen) and she fights with Sistah Brother, but eventually comes around to the cause. She uses some profanity.
DAVID CHAPPELLE plays Conspiracy Brother who's determined there's a white conspiracy behind every problem with black America. He uses some profanity, some of which is strong.
AUNJANUE ELLIS plays one of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents who initially doesn't get along with Undercover Brother or Penelope (with whom she fights). She also uses some profanity.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; DENISE RICHARDS plays a voluptuous woman sent by "The Man" to sidetrack Undercover Brother from his mission. They apparently sleep together (off screen) and she fights with Sistah Brother, but eventually comes around to the cause. She uses some profanity.
DAVID CHAPPELLE plays Conspiracy Brother who's determined there's a white conspiracy behind every problem with black America. He uses some profanity, some of which is strong.
AUNJANUE ELLIS plays one of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents who initially doesn't get along with Undercover Brother or Penelope (with whom she fights). She also uses some profanity.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; DAVID CHAPPELLE plays Conspiracy Brother who's determined there's a white conspiracy behind every problem with black America. He uses some profanity, some of which is strong.
AUNJANUE ELLIS plays one of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents who initially doesn't get along with Undercover Brother or Penelope (with whom she fights). She also uses some profanity.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; AUNJANUE ELLIS plays one of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. agents who initially doesn't get along with Undercover Brother or Penelope (with whom she fights). She also uses some profanity.
NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; NEIL PATRICK HARRIS plays the lily-white intern at The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who eventually understands black culture and kills several guards (played for gross-out laughs).
CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; CHI McBRIDE plays the Chief of The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. who uses profanity and is always yelling at people.
GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; GARY ANTHONY WILLIAMS plays Smart Brother, the inventor agent who works for The B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D.
BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.; BILLY DEE WILLIAMS plays the former defense secretary and war hero who's expected to run for the Presidency, but falls under the spell of The Man and opens a fried chicken restaurant chain instead.

CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit?
Then read OUR TAKE of this film.

(Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below).

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The following is a brief look at the content found in this comedy that's been rated PG-13. Profanity consists of at least 1 "f" word, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Various instances of sexually related dialogue and innuendo are present, it's implied that a couple that's just met has had sex, a woman briefly responds in an aroused/orgasmic fashion to verbal innuendo a man delivers, and women are seen in varying forms of revealing clothing.

Comedy style violence includes various instances of fighting (with punching, kicking, other forms of hitting and attempts on others' lives), people threatening others with guns (in one instance, shooting at some and in another shooting and killing two people), and some comedy style deaths (from an explosion, being eaten by a shark - from a distance with nothing graphic - and a man killing three men by removing one's heart, another's spine, and squashing the third's head all with exaggerated gory results played for laughs).

Various characters have racist attitudes (played for comedy), others smoke or drink, some marijuana is seen in a bag and apparently later smoked (we see people coming out of a van along with pot smoke), and other drug references are made. Meanwhile, some imitative behavior is also present.

If you're still concerned about the film and its appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home who may be interested in seeing it, we suggest that you take a closer look at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE: After Undercover Brother makes a non-drug related comment about "high," Conspiracy Brother wonders if he's talking about high like the Man wants to keep black people and then nervously asks if he smells weed on him (and smells his clothes while doing so).
We see Mr. Feather with a glass of wine.
While undercover, Undercover Brother takes a job working on a tobacco campaign. During this, he pulls out a standard small cigarette (unlit) and then pulls out his revamped version, a huge "fatty." He mentions that it's the kind that's popular with today's black youth.
Some people drink in a bar and Undercover Brother and Penelope later have wine.
The General mentions getting malt liquor free with an order of his chicken (in a commercial).
Undercover Brother and two men have beer.
Conspiracy Brother mentions something about using money for "the weed." Later, he gives Lance a bag of pot to lighten him up, tells him it takes a while to build up a tolerance to prevent being paranoid (but he then acts that way). Even later, various characters leave a van, including Lance who's smiling from the smoke that exits with them.

BLOOD/GORE: Some bird excrement lands on a windshield.
During a comical fight, see an x-ray view of Undercover Brother's foot going up one guard's rear end (with a comment being made, "Right up the pooper").
Three guards confront Lance who loses control and kills the three by doing the following. He yanks the heart from one (we don't see the act, but do see him holding the bloody organ), he yanks another's spine from his body (also don't see the act, but do see the bloody spine), and the squeezes the third man's head until it pops and blood and green goo squirt out.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE: While played for laughs, The Man and his minions obviously have racist attitudes toward blacks, with The Man stating that he wants the White House to stay white (referring to Gen. Boutwell thinking of running for the Presidency) and that blacks are taking over every aspect of their culture.

FRIGHTENING SCENES: It's possible very young viewers or those with low tolerance levels could find some scenes listed under "Violence" as tense, but none are intentionally played that way (rather, they're going for the action/goofy comedy mixture).

GUNS/WEAPONS: Handguns/Machine guns/Shotgun/Afro picks/Blades/Nunchukas: Carried and/or used to threaten or in attempts to wound or kill others. See "Violence" for details.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR: Phrases: "What the f*ck?" "I'm getting too old for this sh*t," "Get his sh*t together," "You talk a lot of sh*t," "Oh, sh*t," "Mother-sucker" (heard in a song), "It ain't no thing," "Shut up (whitey)," "What the hell /are you doing, old man/happened/is your problem/is wrong with you?" "Hell, no," "Solid," "Skinny black ass," "Holy funkadelic," "Who the hell are you?" "Nigger" (said by a black man), "Where the hell have you been?" "Sorry ass," "You're a bad mother" (followed by "Shut your mouth"), "Get your ass down there," "Undercover screw-up," "Holy Motown," "Tight butt white man," "Chick" (woman), "Narrow ass," "Bitch" (not toward or about a woman) and "Honky."
Some impressionable kids might want to imitate the retro looks, behavior and dialogue of some of the characters, and/or the comedy style fighting that's present.
There's a scene where Undercover Brother ends up spinning around in his convertible on the road, all while managing to avoid spilling his Big Gulp drink (some teens might be interested in trying to replicate that maneuver).
Undercover Brother jumps off a building with a parachute.
A woman gives a guard "the finger."
Undercover Brother drives through a carwash in his convertible with the top down.

JUMP SCENES: None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE): A mild amount of comically suspenseful and dramatic music plays in the film.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE): A song repeatedly uses the phrase "mother-sucker."

PROFANITY: At least 1 "f" word (another is mouthed), 11 "s" words, 21 damns, 17 hells, 9 asses, 1 crap, 2 uses of "Good Lord" and 1 use each of "For God's sakes," "Good God" and "Swear to God" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY: Sistah Girl shows varying amounts of cleavage in various outfits during the film.
During the opening credits montage, we see Undercover Brother jump between two women on a bed and knowingly smile (all are clothed).
After Sistah Girl confronts Undercover Brother in his place, he states they should start fooling around and says, "Body slamming, let's get to jamming." He then adds that after a hard day of work, there's nothing like "a little piece of cookie." She then states, "My cookie would break you in half." He then replies, "That would be some long division" and then repeats "long" again (innuendo for genital size).
Sistah Girl comments that all of Undercover Brother's "big" things must mean he's overcompensating for something (a genital reference) and he states that she hasn't seen his big black fuzzy balls (but he's referring to some fuzzy 8-balls hanging from this rearview mirror).
As Conspiracy Brother goes on about various people he claims were really black, he mentions Madonna and then adds that she slept with black men.
While undercover, Undercover Brother takes a job working on a tobacco campaign. During this, he pulls out a standard small cigarette (unlit) and then pulls out his revamped version, a huge "fatty." He then states that it provides long, long lasting pleasure, and adds, "You'll enjoy it again and again and again" (prompting a woman there to audibly respond as if she's aroused and/or having an orgasm from the suggestion, and then stating that she needs a smoke afterwards).
Penelope, who shows some cleavage, tells Undercover Brother that just because a girl has a healthy sexual appetite doesn't mean she can't do her job. She then comments that most people just see "my full breasts and my narrow waist that tapers to my pert backside" (both characters are clothed).
Sistah Girl confronts Undercover Brother about Penelope and he says that he's undercover and mentions no matter how difficult, how dangerous or how good he felt. She then mentions him having sex with a white girl.
Later, and in front of the Chief, Smart Brother and Conspiracy Brother, Sistah Girl again accuses Undercover Brother of having sex with a white girl. The other guys then approach Undercover Brother and congratulate him, with Conspiracy Brother asking if it's everything he's always dreamed of. Later, Lance mentions that Undercover Brother slept with a white chick.
When Penelope holds a gun on Sistah Girl and Undercover Brother and says, "drop it," Undercover Brother starts to undo his pants, but Penelope tells him she was referring to Sistah Girl's gun.
Moments after getting into a fight where they then start to rip off pieces of each other's clothing (but there's no nudity), Sistah Girl and Penelope (who's dressed in a skintight outfit) end up in the shower where the footage suddenly turns to slow motion and Undercover Brother and two other men watch as the water cascades over their bodies (that the camera slowly moves over). The two women then caress and embrace each other in a sensuous fashion. Undercover Brother then mentions something about safe sex and appears to be handing condoms to the two other men.
The camera pans up Penelope's body (in a skintight outfit) from behind and she then states that Undercover Brother is "too much man for me." Later, she says that once "You've had Undercover Brother, there is no other." Conspiracy Brother then corrects her by stating that the real saying is "Once you go black, you don't go back."

SMOKING: The Chief and the Man each smoke or hold cigars in several scenes, while some miscellaneous people smoke (cigars and cigarettes).
While undercover, Undercover Brother takes a job working on a tobacco campaign. During this, he pulls out a standard small cigarette (unlit) and then pulls out his revamped version, a huge "fatty."

TENSE FAMILY SCENES: None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT: The film and public's view of differences between white and black culture.
The film's message of everyone of different races working together as one to get the job done.

VIOLENCE: Everything that's present here is played for laughs.
Undercover Brother hits several guards with the handle of a mop or broom, kicks one, and then hits and kicks more (we also see an x-ray view of his foot going up one guard's rear end). As guards then chase Undercover Brother, Sistah Girl throws out a small line that trips the guards.
During the opening credits, we see various quick views of Undercover Brother punching and hitting various people.
We see some brief martial arts fighting on a movie on TV.
Sistah Girl briefly holds a gun to Undercover Brother's head.
After Undercover Brother gets fresh with Sistah Girl, she backhands him in the face and then punches him in the chest.
Undercover Brother breaks through a door and gets into a fight with Mr. Feather (punches and kicks thrown and blocked). Some guards then hold their guns on Undercover Brother who throws some Afro picks that impale their shirtsleeves to the wall. Another guy then hits Undercover Brother on the back of the head and prepares to shoot him, but Sistah Girl kicks that man's hand and then strikes that guard, knocking him to the floor. We then hear Undercover Brother kick this man.
A golf cart (with two guards pursuing Undercover Brother and Sistah Girl) runs into a propane pipe. After a moment, it explodes, presumably killing the two guards.
Many guards hold guns on Undercover Brother and Sistah Girl, but they manage to escape.
Undercover Brother ends up breaking a large glass window when trying to cut a smaller hole in the middle of it.
Undercover Brother shoves Penelope aside when he spots Sistah Girl.
Conspiracy Brother briefly holds a shotgun on Undercover Brother when he thinks he's gone over to the other side.
Sistah Girl holds a gun on Penelope and the two then fight with all sorts of punches and kicks, while Undercover Brother fights two men who came in holding guns (he starts by squirting hot sauce into their eyes and follows that by punching and hitting them).
Sistah Girl punches Penelope in the face and gut, seemingly knocking her out. Undercover Brother then backhands one man and hits the other with a beer bottle.
Penelope fires several shots at Undercover Brother and Sistah Girl who jump and break through some windows to escape.
During a road chase scene, Undercover Brother causes a pursuing man to fall from his motorcycle (by throwing something that hits the man's helmet) that then crashes and explodes. He then causes another man to fall from his bike and hit the road hard.
Penelope shoots and apparently kills two men who were holding guns on Sistah Girl and Undercover Brother (but we don't see the impact).
Various people hold guns on Penelope.
Mr. Feather holds a gun and various guards aim machine guns at Undercover Brother.
Penelope kicks two guards backwards and holds a gun on someone else.
Penelope and Sistah Girl join forces and hit and kick various guards.
Conspiracy Brother backhands Lance in the face with a gun (after the latter makes a smart comment).
Sistah Girl kicks a gun from the General's hand (that he was aiming at Undercover Brother).
Undercover Brother slaps Lance several times to help him regain his composure.
Undercover Brother flies through the air, kicks a man backwards, and then hits and punches another man.
Three guards confront Lance who loses control and kills the three by doing the following. He yanks the heart from one (we don't see the act, but do see him holding the bloody organ), he yanks another's spine from his body (also don't see the act, but do see the bloody spine), and the squeezes the third man's head (while he has Lance in a bear hug) until it pops and blood and green goo squirt out.
Undercover Brother and Mr. Feather fight with various punches and kicks to the body and face. Feather then reveals a blade from his shirtsleeve (and later does the same with the other arm) and then tries to slice Undercover Brother with those blades. After Feather slices off part of his Afro, Undercover Brother then pulls out some nunchukas (and accidentally hits himself in the crotch). Feather then races toward him, but Undercover Brother ties up his hands, and repeatedly hits and kicks Feather. Feather then throws sand into Undercover Brother's face before trying to escape.
Undercover Brother throws two Afro picks that land in Feather's clothed butt, causing him to fall from a helicopter toward the ocean where a large shark jumps up and swallows him.
Various explosions rock a fortress.

Reviewed May 28, 2002 / Posted May 31, 2002

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