I'M GONNA GET YOU, SUCKA

US, 1988, 89 minutes, Colour.
Keenan Ivory Wayans, Bernie Casey, Steve James, Isaac Hayes, Jim Brown, Antonio Fargas, David Alan Grier, Chris Rock, Damon Wayans, Clarence Williams III.
Directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans.

I'm Gonna Get You, Sucka is quite a funny parody of American gangster films, but especially the presentation of blacks and black themes in American films. It was written and directed Keenan Major Wayans. He also takes the central role of Jack.

The film has a strong sense of humour, has some very funny lines, some excellent episodic vignettes which send up so much of film-making. There is an interesting supporting case of older black actors from violent films of the '70s: Bernie Casey, Jim Brown (and even his theme from Shaft). John Vernon is Mr Big and explains his presence in the film because Shelley Winters and others appeared as villains in exploitation films. There is a very good black cast who mimic the style of characters in films excellently.

Offbeat but funny.

1. Amusing black parody? The story in itself, plot line, spoof?

2. The setting in Any Ghetto, U.S.A., the streets, the apartments, the world of Mr Big, etc?

3. The musical score, the songs, the theme from Shaft, the themes for heroes of such films (and the players in tow)?

4. The parallel with conventions of the films of the '70s and '80s: vengeance, crime in the streets, romance? The cleverness of the screenplay, the involvement of the audience - and the deadpan humour?

5. A variety of humorous episodes and their effect on the film: the memory of the dance competition of the '70s, the theme music with the musicians following, Mr Big and his explanation of stars as exploitation villains, Joe and his martial arts scenes, the customer wanting to buy one rib and a sip of soda, the black anchorman and his aping of white manners, the funeral crowd at the wrong funeral, Jack and his attack on the midgets, the cafe with the wide-brim hats, the ceremony for Pimp of the Year, the gang competitions and the races with stereos, the dismantling of cars, the visit to the revolutionary and the bean meals and his white ways, the room left for 10 years, the bald girl and her dismantling herself, Joe appearing after the credits?

6. The opening death, the jokes about over-gold, too many gold chains? The funeral and everybody leaving? Ma and Cheryl talking it over, the tough guys coming to rough them up, Ma throwing them out, the continuing joke of their going down the stairs, Jack's arrival?

7. Jack as hero, the military, arriving home, love for Ma and Cheryl, his room after 10 years, the discussion with Ma helping him (and his fights as a child, especially with the midgets)? Slade and seeking him out, the competition in the streets, the recruiting of the various members? The veteran with his eye patch and their both being secretaries? With the group, the arms? Dating Cheryl? The action, the restaurant with the wide-brim hats? The siege? His being scratched and afraid? Locking Ma in the room? The confrontation with Mr Big, rescuing Cheryl? The hero?

8. Slade and his toughness, the past, organising the neighbourhood competition, in love with Belle - and his talking about her and then realising she was Jack's mother, recruiting the various members of the group, getting the ammunition, going into action, exploding going down the rope, the finale?

9. Hammer and Slammer, running the cafe, with all the weapons and the slip and explosion, the bunion on the toe, going in the window? Theme from Shaft and the satire on old footballers as black heroes?

10. Joe and his karate, the shootings, the end?

11. Fly Guy, his camp manner, his memories of being Pimp of the Year, out of jail, with the yellow outfit and the fish-tank shoes, his being chased down the street, coming to the rescue?

12. Ma and the black mother, her attitudes towards her son (and the stuntman being shown standing in for her gymnastics)? Her not being allowed to help at the end?

13. Cheryl, the wife, in love with Jack, waiting for him, her work, being kidnapped?

14. Mr Big and his henchmen, having the police in his pocket, Lennie and the nephew, their continually ruining things, the satire on the tough black gangsters? Mr Big and his defeat? The melodrama of his death?

15. 90 minutes of black satire - its comment on American films, black humour?