The action comedy
White Chicks stars the
Wayans Brothers as incompetent FBI agents disguised in drag as White socialites, trying to get to the bottom of a kidnapping plot. Marcus Copeland (
Marlon Wayans) and Kevin Copeland (
Shawn Wayans) are forced to go undercover as something unfortunate happens to the women they are protecting. They undergo the type of physical transformation that only occurs in movies making these tall Black men into tall White curvaceous women. Off to the Hamptons they go, to find out why the women they are now portraying are seen as bait, and we laugh it up most of the way.
The basic comedy is from the fish out of water premise as tough federal agents playing rich snobby women. Standard jokes exist as men struggling as women in their tight clothing and attempting to be feminine or sexy. More importantly it parodies the differences between races and gender with ultra rich White society and urban Black cultures as these men inhabit the women as African Americans with attitude. The spoiled women in the Hamptons come with their own attitude grown from a feeling of privilege that contrasts humorously with that of the Wayans’ women. There are moments of crass or crude humor as well which can paradoxically be both funny and overdone as the film goes on. This holds true for the edited scenes that did not appear in the theatrical release. Yet, this film does not feel like a one joke premise because as comedians the Wayans Brothers know how to deliver snappy one-liners or act out when it is necessary to spice up a scene. While not the most original story the best of the humor comes from the differences between gender and race which are thankfully not sugarcoated in any way.
The costumes, makeup, and appearance of the Wayans as women are not believable in the least. Apparently this was not intentional but they do not look human. They are some combination of an alien or horror show at best. It is obvious that the Hilton sisters are the inspiration for the characters and I think people will enjoy laughing at their expense for flaunting their excess.
The Wayans Brothers are funny as White women and not because they are convincing in the role, which they are not. Rather they deliver funny lines and play their roles so flamboyantly that one has to laugh at the absurdity of it all. Yet Terry Crews, the pro-athlete Latrell, steals most of the scenes as a Black man who wants to find himself some Caucasian loving. Brittany Daniel (Megan Vandergeld) is typecast once again as the dumb, attractive blonde and Jamie King (Heather Vandergeld) her counterpart who together portray the Wayans Brothers rivals.
If you wish to watch a silly movie where you can be entertained without thinking too much or avoid an overly complicated story, then you ...
