Michael Jai White, Kym Whitley, Tommy Davidson

African-American action legend Black Dynamite goes after 'The Man' for killing his brother Jimmy, for pumping heroin into local orphanages and for flooding the ghetto with hopped-up malt liquor.

Flixster Users

87% liked it

2,013 ratings

Critics

84% liked it

37 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Scott Sanders

Release Date: October 16, 2009

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Flixster Reviews (327)


  • November 9, 2009
    A homage to blaxploitation movies done right. Jai White and the whole cast is great, playing their roles with the right approach. The story do feels that gets lost a bit in the middle, and the comedy can sometimes feel that is winking too much to genre fans. Neverless, it doesn't...( read more) take away anything from the overall product, this is how you revive the grindhouse. No CGI, no redundant dialogues, just the core stuff.
  • November 7, 2009
    Take out a pen and a pad and write down the name 'Black Dynamite' This is a character that will soon be on everyone's T-Shirt's, and will make a regular appearance at quoteathons. Black Dynamite resurrects the word 'spoof', which has been dragged through the mud in recent years. ...( read more)It's both a loving tribute and a fun pastiche of blaxploitation films. It isn't just a list of references, but a well crafted story in it's own right. Jai White is obviously having more fun than any man alive. Displaying unique and perfect timing in both his kung-fu routines, and his comedic moments. Like Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, this recreates the era perfectly, and uses "bad" moments, such as poor script reading and boom mic handling, to it's advantage. When people speak of fun entertainment, this is what they mean.
  • October 16, 2009
    This film reduced me to tears of laughter. I've just returned home from seeing it at the Edinburgh film festival and can honestly say this is one of the best movies i've seen this year. I could just list all of the best bits of the movie in this review, but i'd rather you all jus...( read more)t went to see it for yourselves.

    As a parody/homage of the blaxploitation movies of the 70's, this is perfect. If I didn't know better, i'd think this was actually made in the 70's. Its full of cool little details, the decor, the fashion, the hair styles, the Isaac Hayes/Curtis mayfield style music that details the plot in the lyrics (sometimes scene specific), the grainy picture and the intentionally dodgy camera-work, crash zooms, boom mics in shot etc. During the fight scenes, Michael jai white's kung fu yell is a spot on impersonation of Jim Kelly's (he of Enter the Dragon fame).

    Like all the best spoofs, all the actors play it completely straight. White is perfectly cast as Black Dynamite, and if there is any justice in the world, this movie will make him a star. I can almost imagine Samuel L playing this part, but I doubt he could have played it as well as white did. The scene that crystallised his performance for me, was when, during a long speech, a boom mic pops in to shot right next to his face. During the scene, the cameraman is continually trying to adjust the shot to hide the mic. Dynamite continues with his speech as if nothing is going on, but just before he is finished talking, he quickly glances at it, then finishes his speech. The way he plays it is perfect and had everyone in the cinema in fits of laughter.

    I said earlier that this is the best spoof since airplane, but I actually think this may be better. In airplane, the jokes were quickfire, but hit and miss, but in black dynamite, every joke hits its mark, and its just as quickfire as airplane. The tone is set pretty quick ( when an undercover agent is caught out cos he cant talk jive properly) and doesn't let up until the credits have rolled. I was still laughing hours after I left the cinema just thinking about it.

    Watching this made me wonder how the Austin powers films were such big hits. They were a similar kind of parody but nowhere near as funny, and at the end of the day, aside from a couple of amusing cameos, a one man show (and not a very good one at that). If this doesn't at least do Austin powers numbers, I will be very disappointed, as it deserves the success. Very rarely does a film make me laugh so hard I cry, and this movie did it several times, and its not just me, I think everyone in the cinema had the same experience. Go and see this first chance you get, I cant recommend it enough.
  • November 21, 2009
    The ending to this movie is so ridiculous when you explain it to people. This movie is hilarious, a real gem and a great nod to blaxpoitation.
  • November 11, 2009
    Trop bien, j'me suis vraiment marré et les acteurs aussi ont l'air de s'amuser, tout est bien dans le film mais le mieux c'est le combat entre Dynamite et le président Nixon à coup de nunchaku, Michael Jai White assure sur tous les points et bien sûr en combat vu que c'est un vér...( read more)itable pratiquant d'art martiaux, une seule chose à dire ou plutôt deux, Dyn-O-mite !!! Dyn-O-mite !!!!!
  • November 11, 2009
    Oh man, so funny! This is a perfect parody of blaxploitation, it's got the cheesy acting and dialogue, visible boom mikes, continuity errors, ridiculous plot elements and over the top action... if it didn't have some recognizable faces and if I hadn't known it was a recent relea...( read more)se I would have thought it was made in the 70's. Black Dynamite is kind of a stupid movie, but that's exactly what they were going for.
  • November 10, 2009
    Fun and very Funny!!!
  • November 9, 2009
    I think that I will be skipping this one.
  • November 8, 2009
    This is a funny through back style movie. The plot is very funny ad there are lots of great oneliners. Will you like it? You bet your sweet ass and half a titty you will.
  • November 8, 2009
    "Doughnuts don't wear alligator shoes."

    I now wish that Quentin Tarantino had contacted Scott Sanders and Michael Jai White when he decided to make Grindhouse.

Critic Reviews


October 16, 2009
Kurt Loder, MTV

Can Black Dynamite fend off the Man and the mob and the phalanx of wah-wah guitars arrayed against him and fight his way to the Honky House to mete out kung-fu justice? Most likely! full review

October 16, 2009
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

As a five-minute clip on YouTube, this spoof might be a small masterpiece. As a feature film, it's both too much and not nearly enough. full review

October 15, 2009
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times

See this one with a crowd, and remember Black Dynamite's immortal words: "Doughnuts don't wear alligator shoes." full review

October 15, 2009
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I am happy to say it brings back an element sadly missing in recent movies, gratuitous nudity. full review

May 3, 2009
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine

Generally humorless and pointless, devoid as the film is of any commentary on the genre to which it's paying loving tribute. full review

View more Black Dynamite reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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  • Jared Hess is the writer/director of the rather disappointing "Nacho Libre", starring Jack Black. His first major feature, however, was this quirky comedy classic.  Answer »

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