From the mind of Michael Jai White (of Spawn and Dark Knight fame) comes the baddest ex-C.I.A. vigilante whose body count is the only thing higher than the notches on his bedpost. Black Dynamite tried to stay out of the game since Vietnam, but when his brother is found dead at the scene of a high profile drug deal, Black Dynamite takes it upon himself to avenge his brother's death and clean up the streets from the dangerous new drug that has hooked the little orphan children.
Cleaning up the streets is hard work for one man. Luckily, Black Dynamite has enough friends to call when the chips are down. He has Bullhorn, a club-owner who yells in rhyme and supports Black Dynamite anytime. He also gains the trust of pimp-informant Cream Corn (played by Tommy Davidson), whose perm is almost always left unfinished. With cameos from other cool cats (like Arsenio Hall) and the help of some former C.I.A. friends, Black Dynamite fights injustice in the poor house all the way to the "Honky House."
This send-up of 70's blaxploitation strikes the perfect blend of gut-busting humor and cheesy, impossible action. Essentially a parody of a satire, Black Dynamite has heart and it comes through. Recreating everything that made 70's era films special including numerous continuity breaks, intentionally disorienting jump cuts, and ridiculously impossible conflict resolutions, Black Dynamite is in the capable hands of people who are smart about good comedy. Honestly, I haven't seen anything that approaches this level of satirical hilarity since the first Scary Movie or even the last Naked Gun.
The Blu-ray transition actually helps to create a convincingly bad quality that the type of movie Black Dynamite spoofs is known for. Various filters and grainy effects help make the movie feel like it is nearly 40 years old. Bonus features on the disc include interviews with the cast and crew, a Comic-Con interview panel, and numerous deleted scenes. PS3 owners who use their console as their main Blu-ray player will get a special treat with a Black Dynamite cross-media bar theme. I recommend watching the featurette on how Black Dynamite was made because it gives a good glimpse of how much hard work it takes to be funny.
Black Dynamite is easily the funniest movie I have seen in years. A masterpiece of timing and silliness, it proves that enough devotion can result in an instant comedy classic. If you miss Black Dynamite, you run the risk of not seeing the greatest achievement in genre comedy since Naked Gun. Go watch it, sucka!
