DysFunKtional Family (2003)

43% of critics liked it
(63 reviews)
72% of users liked it
(1,509 ratings)

Comedian Eddie Griffin delivers a set of his outrageous standup comedy and introduces his fans to the family who helped inspire his work in this documentary. In DysFunKtional Family, Griffin talks about race, sex, cats, dogs, slavery, terrorism, Michael Jackson, and several of the more eccentric… More Comedian Eddie Griffin delivers a set of his outrageous standup comedy and introduces his fans to the family who helped inspire his work in this documentary. In DysFunKtional Family, Griffin talks about race, sex, cats, dogs, slavery, terrorism, Michael Jackson, and several of the more eccentric members of his family during a sold-out live show. In between bits, Griffin takes us on a tour of his home town of Kansas City, where we get to meet his mother, who has a remarkable enthusiasm for corporal punishment; his uncle, who discusses his remarkable enthusiasm for pornography; and another uncle, who proved to be an invaluable help to Griffin's early career despite his drug habit and career as a pimp. DysFunKtional Family was directed by George Gallo, who previously worked with Griffin on the comedy Double Take. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 23 min.
Directed By: George Gallo
Written By: Eddie Griffin
Genres: Documentary, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 4, 2003 Wide
On DVD: Sep 9, 2003
Studio: Miramax Films

Critic Reviews

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
For every bit that's flatly derivative ... there's another that connects.
Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper
... Griffin's social commentary is just as piercing and hilarious as the autobiographical stuff.
Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post
One of the funnier and, in an odd way, disturbing stand-up concert films in a long while.
Claudia Puig, USA Today
Highlights some of the best, and raunchiest, of [Griffin's] humor.
C.W. Nevius, San Francisco Chronicle
The pacing, the leather suit, the raspy speed rap. Chris Rock and others do it, and as long as Griffin sticks with the shtick he doesn't have much to add.
John Anderson, Newsday
If Pryor, whose influence is so obvious here, was the big wheel, Griffin is something stuck between the treads.
Brian Mckay, eFilmCritic.com
Even when some of his material has a "been there, heard that" sense to it, Griffin's outbursts of charisma help elevate the overall presentation.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Click to read review
Josh Bell, Las Vegas Weekly
Griffin's paean to beating your children is more than a little disturbing.
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
Fans of the film may want to check out this DVD edition for the impressive 35 minutes of deleted/alternate scenes tucked away in the special features section.
Brandon Judell, Gay City News
Eddie notes he if had a gay son, he'd tie him to a bed and send in a whore every hour. "How can any father be proud of a having a gay son?" he asks bewilderedly.
Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card
Having really enjoyed "Undercover Brother," I went out of my way to catch this film and ended up laughing so hard, I cried at times.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Offensive is easy. Daring takes brains. And brains seem to be in short supply here -- almost in as short supply as laughs and audiences.
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Interminable going, not only because the forward momentum of Griffin's stand-up is routinely interrupted by annoying side trips to visit his porno-loving uncle or his cringing mom, but also because Griffin's material just isn't that funny.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
Like those proverbial million monkeys with their typewriters, Griffin manages to get off a halfway-funny line every now and again.
Brent Simon, Entertainment Today
A fun if not particularly revelatory slice of entertainment, Griffin's concert film seems largely designed only to shock with vulgarity without searching for the deeper 'why' behind the jokes.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Griffin's keen wit, coupled with director Gallo's sense of pacing & alternating stage and offstage material makes this more than a concert film.
Marshall Fine, Journal News (Westchester, NY)
Griffin's family is fascinating and real, and his comedy, while it can be caustic, has a positive spirit.