I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is both a great parody and tribute to the blaxploitation films of the 1970s.  Directed by and starring Keenen Ivory Wayans, the story revolves around a young man who returns home to find out his young brother Junebug has OG’ed; overdosed on gold chains.  And while that shot is funny, there’s more than a few other bits that anyone who’s seen this movie would probably agree as being just as memorable.  No blog or review can do a joke-heavy movie like this justice, but I’ll do the best I can through the tale of the tape…

Relevance: Well, as previously mentioned, the story is a send up of all the great black films of the 70s.  And a quick cast list: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Damon Wayans, Kadeem Hardison, Jim Brown, Bernie Casey, Kim Wayans, Chris Rock…I’m waiting for the counter argument…

Craft: You might think this movie would rate low because it’s a parody, but because it’s such a well-done parody, I’m giving it pretty high marks for craft.  You remember the ‘stunt double’ during one of the fight scene?  The Boogie Down Productions cameo in reference to the theme song joke?  Jack Spade’s comment about being a hero because he’s an ex-football player (and Jim Brown backs down)?  Those are all good jokes, but it’s also pointing out some of the customs of blaxploitation films.

Crossover:  Here’s the weak spot, so to speak.  This was before In Living Color, when all the principals were in either the very early stages of their careers (Wayans, Rock) or the late stages (Brown, Casey).  It’s probably picked up some life after the fact, but at the time it come out, I’m pretty sure this was a ‘black thing’ (now that’s a dated phrase, isn’t it?)

Legacy:  Well, you can look at one of two ways.  This was the first film from the family that gave us In Living Color and Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (my personal favorite Wayans film by the way).  Or you can look at it as the predecessor to White Chicks and Little Man (the same type of humor really, but the latter is obviously much more straight up slapstick than the other).    But a family of talented black comedians solidified their footing in the Business with Sucka (all the way down to the horrible nightclub singer being the director’s sister joke).

Apollo: Movies like I’m Gonna Git You Sucka are made for the Apollo category, so I’ll just list my personal favorite joke.  Flyguy’s ready to get back on the scene, he re-emerges, complete with the high heeled shoes with real goldfish in the soles.  After a few “Alright Flyguy!” comments, one of the heels breaks, the jokes start, and he’s quickly hopping down the street and one of his one good aquarium heel.  I’m dying just thinking about it.  But if anyone wants to make an argument for Chris Rock’s “One Rib” scene (or something else), you’ll get no complaints from me.

So we’re starting to make our way through the list.  The 23rd film may be my first controversial choice.  We’ll see in a couple of weeks…