WHITE CHICKS

US, 2004, 109 minutes, Colour.
Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, John Heard, Terry Crews.
Directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans.

White chicks are really the target for this broad (very broad) comedy. The arrogantly wealthy shop-till-you-drop crowd whose ambition is to be seen as socialites at in-parties, are mocked rather mercilessly.

This is a Wayans Brothers (Living Color) enterprise.Two FBI agents (Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans) have been too quick on the draw and are assigned guard duty to two obnoxious white chick sisters. To foil a kidnapping plot, the only thing they can do (but there must be other ways!) is to disguise themselves as the two sisters. One immediate drawback is that the girls are white and the agents are black. They do it and find themselves having to play being just two of the girls. Of course, they solve the mystery and foil the plots while falling foul of wives and girlfriends.

The film gives the American black audience a chance to hoot at the white chicks. White chicks themselves might not find it so funny as most of them turn out to be mean girls.

1.The target audience? Americans? African American audience? White audience? More universal?

2.The Wayans brothers, their TV tradition, their broad comedy, slapstick, parody? Writing? Wit – and sometimes witless?

3.The lavish settings, the FBI activity, headquarters? The world of the wealthy, the Hamptons, the weekend in the mansion? The grounds, the restaurants? The contrast with the agents’ homes? The musical score and songs? The choreography and dancing? Especially with the step-up rivalry?

4.The title, cross-dressing? The tradition in the movies: Tootsie,Mrs Doubtfire, Big Momma’s House…?

5.The FBI, the confrontation with the criminal, the impersonation of the ice cream sellers, the pursuit? The guns? Mishandling the situation? The chief, his wanting to sack them?

6.The situation with the abduction of the girls? Their going under cover? The transformation of the African American men into white girls? Masks, hair, dresses? The usual jokes about a man trying to cope as a woman?

7.The actual sisters, their haughtiness, the mean girls’ tradition? Flighty, selfish, greedy? The interaction with the agents? Crammed in the car, the dog, the luggage? The dog outside the car, the crash? Their concerned about their appearance? The men taking their place?

8.The credibility of Kevin and Marcus masquerading as white girls? The comedy of their impersonation? The going shopping, the dresses, their being too tight, the girls helping them? The talk? The chatter? The gossip? Talking about the boys? Their relating well with the girls, the girls liking them? The comedy about Marcus’s wife and her phone calls and suspicions? Kevin and the player wanting to court him? The auction, Latrell and his spending all his money buying the girl? The later comedy – and gross, very gross touches with the meal, the physical behaviour jokes?

9.The background of Warren Vandergeld and his daughters, throwing the party, lack of money, his deals? The plan to abduct the girls? Putting the plan into action, his being caught? The girls and their humiliation?

10.Kevin, his attraction towards the news reporter? Hitting on her? Taking her out to Latrell’s apartment, the dog? Her filming the confession? His apologising to her? Going out with her? The happy ending for him?

11.The agents, having to track the girls, their suspicions? Searching the room? Arresting the real sisters and the humiliating search? Losing their jobs?

12.Latrell, his vanity, sports, the auction, dating the girl? The revelation of the truth?

13.The dancing, the fashion show – and things ending in a mess?

14.The men, chasing the criminals in the street? Their masculine behaviour? The final unmasking? The shootour?

15.The dialogue, the heavy satire on affluent white girls and their way of life, behaviour, language and attitudes?