Feature Review: Pootie Tang
Written by: Brian Orndorf

Rated: 10/10     

If the phrase "Sine your piddy on the runny kine" doesn’t extract howls of laughter from you, I would suggest to avoid the new feature "Pootie Tang" at all costs.

Pootie Tang (Lance Crouther) is the baddest brother on Earth. Born in a town outside of Gary, Indiana called Chicago, Pootie speaks a language only the coolest people understand. A mixture of street jive and unintelligible nonsense ("Ooooh, sepatown!), it drives the women crazy and makes Pootie a hero to children around the globe. Battling his sinister foes with the help of his daddy’s lethal belt, Pootie finds himself facing ultimate evil in the form of Dick Lecter (Robert Vaughn), the CEO of a global corporation bent on ruining Pootie’s good name to sell kids junkfood, malt liquor, and burgers filled with MSG.

The character of Pootie Tang was born on the late HBO sketch-comedy program "The Chris Rock Show". Created by star Crouther and writer/director Louis CK (himself a talented stand-up comedian), Pootie Tang is one odd fellow, and like the film itself, if you don’t get the joke right away, there is really no good reason to continue. Poking fun at the culture of hip-hop cool (or taking it to its logical conclusion) on the cable show, it was a blast to see Pootie run for congress, or stop by to promote his latest music video or book. However, taking a five minute idea and making a full-length feature out of it is a tricky notion. It only seems to work for "Saturday Night Live" about 50 percent of the time. In the film’s favor is a list of reliable talent both in front and behind the camera. They collaborate to make "Pootie Tang" one of the more elusive, yet triumphant comedies of the year.

Playing off of Blacksploitation clichés, parodying the MTV culture, and even exploring archetypal comic book mythology, "Pootie Tang" is the most specific motion picture in ages. With all the studios trying to find the widest possible audience for their films, "Pootie Tang" only plays to the inner circle that knows what makes Pootie so funny. Sure, that’s a bit limiting, yet it frees up the rest of the movie to be as silly, creative, and fearless as it damn well pleases.

And fearlessly funny "Pootie Tang" is. It’s an old-fashioned gut buster that somehow comes up with a laugh for every minute of its tragically short running time (79 minutes). That’s not to say it isn’t messy. The low budget allotted to "Pootie" shows unmercifully in the picture through chaotic and misdirected editing, and even a handful of unfinished process shots. Nevertheless, as low tech as "Pootie" is, it makes up for it with unbridled enthusiasm for Pootie’s world, and a gloriously committed performance from Crouther.

The screenplay gives Crouther and Pootie plenty to do. The funniest bits include Pootie and his ability to stylishly dodge bullets; Pootie’s heartbreak over the respect he loses from the local kids ("No, not the tipi-tyes!); a bizarre villain named Dirty D - due to his addiction to being filthy; a young Pootie breaking the heart of a 30 year-old woman; and Pootie’s seduction of a farmer’s daughter by rubbing a cherry pie all over his body. Chris Rock also pops up now and then in various supporting roles, most memorably as Pootie’s Dad, who uses the magical belt to curb his son’s bad behavior by smacking him with it.

I’m not going to kid myself here. I know that this film will not appeal to everybody. For those who are searching for something original, silly, and unconcerned with mass acceptance, you could not do any better than "Pootie Tang". Sa da tay!

COMMENTS
Date/Time of Posting:  Jun 19 2002 / 20:19:22
name = casey Lindner
where = pigeonkc@aol.com
Subject = pootie tang
comments = This is the best movie I have seen in a long time.  I pray that your 10/10 was not a joke.  sah dah tay! Casey.

Date/Time of Posting:  Jun 27 2002 / 09:47:59
name = annette conlon
where = aconlon@yahoo.com
Subject  = pootie tang 10/10- YES!
comments = pootie is too cool for words and biggie shorty is brilliant! wah da tah!

Date/Time of Posting:  Sep 06 2002 / 23:45:36
IP Address:  66.168.185.123
name = Jeremy
where = LD@aol.com
replyemail = Pootie
comments = You Guys are total morons.

Date/Time of Posting:  Sep 16 2002 / 09:20:05
IP Address:  67.104.49.67
name = dave
where = davep@urah.com
replyemail = Pootytang
comments = Even funnier than "Kung Pow! Enter the Fist"!
say hey to the tippi tai!

Date/Time of Posting:  Sep 20 2002 / 23:12:55
IP Address:  65.71.41.109
name = asclepius
where = acslepius@philosophers.net
comments = fine movie.  well written review.  pot brownies made pootie tang the most wonderfully absurd movie i have seen in a long time (lebowski).  i thought for a sec i was watching BET, but soon began laughing and didnt stop for about 90 minutes.  Two words: Bob Costas!