WHO’S YOUR CADDY

US, 2007, 92 minutes, Colour.
Antwan Andre Patton, Faizon Love, Jeffrey Jones.
Directed by Don Michael Paul.

Who’s Your Caddy plays on the phrase ‘Who’s your daddy’ – and both themes are relevant for this broad comedy.

The film was made by the Weinstein brothers with a variety of producers including Queen Latifah. It is designed, especially, for an African American audience. There are stereotypes of blacks, there are stereotypes of whites – and the whites, ultimately, provide the villain.

The film is a mixture of comedy, sentiment, and a love for golf.

Antwan Andre Patton plays a successful rock star with a strong academic background. He decides that he wants to be a member of an exclusive South Carolina golf club but is rejected by the vindictive manager, played by Jeffrey Jones (the emperor in Amadeus). He then buys the property next door on a technical let-out. Then begins a battle of wits, with the club manager using an African American skilled lawyer to make his case – then resorting to dirty tactics and a bomb. In the meantime, the singer is revealed to have been the son of the caddy who shot the record score on the green but his score was disallowed and concealed. This means that the son is playing for the love of golf as well as, in the words of the screenplay, sticking it to the man.

There are some very broad scenes with physical humour. There are some humorous jokes. Faizon Love portrays a rather gross fat African American – but who still seems to be able to charm the women.

The film is particularly American – but is a 2007 example of films for African Americans and the bringing up of racism issues. The director is Don Michael Paul (Stephen Segal’s Half Past Dead).

1.The audience for this film? Americans? African Americans? White Americans? Non-Americans?

2.The combination of humour, sentiment? How well does it work for an American audience? Beyond?

3.The South Carolina setting? The golf course and the golf club, the mansion next door, the local town? The atmosphere of South Carolina? The musical score?

4.The introduction to C-Note?, his personality, his entourage? Their coming to the golf club, barging in, wanting membership? The reaction of Cummings, his assistant, the rejection of Bill Clinton and Rosie O’Donnell?, the candidature of Al Sharpton? The indication of racist attitudes?

5.C-Note and his entourage, the legal advice? Being shown around the property, buying it? Shooting the music video? Cummings and his objections? The ninety-nine year lease, its lapsing, Hawkings and his owning the property?

6.The rivalry, the use of the lawyer, her advice about infringements of membership and rules? The helicopter, the vehicle, the firearm – and the hearing to install Hawkings as a member – the helicopter not landing, the mayor’s permit for the firearm, the vehicle…?

7.The lawyer, her going to visit Chris’s mother, the mother and her laying down the law? The lawyer saying she went to meet C-Note? but met Christopher Hawkings? The basis for the romance? Her supporting him – and resigning?

8.Cummings and his using the saboteurs, the bomb, his son discovering it, his own car blowing up? The hiding, the investigation, the questioning of the dwarf? Getting the truth – and Cummings being arrested? In jail?

9.The tournament, the background of Chris’s father, his being the caddy, the revelation to Cummings? His saying the scorecard was a forgery? The friend of the father and his coming to give testimony?

10.The set-up for the match, the entourage and their playing the game? Cummings and his bringing in the expert? Chris and his bringing in the young caddy? Their play, the pep talk about playing the game rather than the man? The ultimate success and Chris’s imitation of his father?

11.The minor characters, Chris’s entourage, the fat man and his behaviour, grossness, his humour, charming Cummings’ wife? The man with the dreadlocks and his living in another world? The standover man? The woman and her business sense?

12.The members of the club, Cummings’ assistant, a yes-man, his commentary on the game?

13.The issue of the American Open, Chris owning the course, the acceptance, Cummings’ assistant and his being a toady to the new owners? The romantic ending?

14.The use of this broad kind of comedy for message and issues of racism?