111 reviews
You would think with all the accumulated earnings the Wayans brothers, Shawn and Marlon, have obtained after being on Television and in films for years that they would invest their money and their time in projects that would be a bit more thoughtful and entertaining. Instead, ever since the runaway success of "A Haunted House" in 2013, the two, particularly Marlon, have been keen on making movies that fit the bill for the lowest common denominator of entertainment. "Fifty Shades of Black," a horribly obvious and persistently unfunny array of cheapshots at the erotic novel/film series that is already too easy to joke about, continues Marlon's streak and incredible failing to make something out of his Baby Way Productions company.
I've always found it interesting that while Tyler Perry's films are anything but consistent, and there are about an equal number of bad films in his catalog as good films, he often gets blamed for making films about black people that cater to the lowest common denominator and showcase them in a negative light, yet the recent collaborations of Marlon Wayans and Michael Tiddes go pretty much unscathed. These are films that evoke some of the most putrid and ugly stereotypes about nearly every race and, for that matter, exist simply as unapologetically crude and contrived projects that do nothing but attempt to evoke laughs based on brand-recognition. These films are just a slight notch above the dreaded works of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer.
As hinted, "Fifty Shades of Black" is a parody of "Fifty Shades of Grey," and it takes pretty much the safest, most convenient route to parody the film by making the jokes largely centered around the absurdity of BDSM and its culture, race and ethnic humor, the ordinariness and "ugliness" of its lead female character, and the enigma surrounding its titular character, who in this case, is Christian Black (Marlon Wayans). Christian is a multi-millionaire mogul who begins a sexual relationship with his new intern, Hannah Steale (Kali Hawk) and what entails is a relationship filled with sex, sexual violence, and downright bizarre encounters.
While whatever Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison gang is cooking up this year is likely to get plenty of Razzie nominations, Marlon Wayans and his cast of familiar faces such as Affion Crockett, Missi Pyle, Mike Epps, Fred Willard, and more should be looking at the same award. It's incredibly rare to see a cast ostensibly operate on auto-pilot and look like the end product bearing some essence of quality is the furthest thing from their minds, but perhaps given the lazy screen writing of Rick Alvarez and Wayans himself, this was to be expected.
Shockingly enough, "Fifty Shades of Black" offers more laughs than both of the "Haunted House" films put together, especially during a sequence that parodies one of last year's Best Picture contenders at the Academy Awards. However, in order to get to this sequence, one has to succumb to the drudgery of enough racial and bathroom humor - so much that it gives Laura Mulvey's concept of "phallocentrism" a whole different angle to explore - that it ultimately isn't worth sitting through the amount of trivial nonsense to get to that particular scene.
We're not even in February yet and this year has already been incredibly interesting for comedies. After seeing "Ride Along 2," I didn't think many more comedies of the year would get much worse than that. Then I saw "Dirty Grandpa" the following week and I thought the same thing; there was most likely the weakest comedy of 2016 that I would have to sit through. Now, almost exactly a week later, I've seen "Fifty Shades of Black," and if this isn't the worst comedy of 2016, I seriously fear what I have to endure in the coming eleven months.
I've always found it interesting that while Tyler Perry's films are anything but consistent, and there are about an equal number of bad films in his catalog as good films, he often gets blamed for making films about black people that cater to the lowest common denominator and showcase them in a negative light, yet the recent collaborations of Marlon Wayans and Michael Tiddes go pretty much unscathed. These are films that evoke some of the most putrid and ugly stereotypes about nearly every race and, for that matter, exist simply as unapologetically crude and contrived projects that do nothing but attempt to evoke laughs based on brand-recognition. These films are just a slight notch above the dreaded works of Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer.
As hinted, "Fifty Shades of Black" is a parody of "Fifty Shades of Grey," and it takes pretty much the safest, most convenient route to parody the film by making the jokes largely centered around the absurdity of BDSM and its culture, race and ethnic humor, the ordinariness and "ugliness" of its lead female character, and the enigma surrounding its titular character, who in this case, is Christian Black (Marlon Wayans). Christian is a multi-millionaire mogul who begins a sexual relationship with his new intern, Hannah Steale (Kali Hawk) and what entails is a relationship filled with sex, sexual violence, and downright bizarre encounters.
While whatever Adam Sandler and his Happy Madison gang is cooking up this year is likely to get plenty of Razzie nominations, Marlon Wayans and his cast of familiar faces such as Affion Crockett, Missi Pyle, Mike Epps, Fred Willard, and more should be looking at the same award. It's incredibly rare to see a cast ostensibly operate on auto-pilot and look like the end product bearing some essence of quality is the furthest thing from their minds, but perhaps given the lazy screen writing of Rick Alvarez and Wayans himself, this was to be expected.
Shockingly enough, "Fifty Shades of Black" offers more laughs than both of the "Haunted House" films put together, especially during a sequence that parodies one of last year's Best Picture contenders at the Academy Awards. However, in order to get to this sequence, one has to succumb to the drudgery of enough racial and bathroom humor - so much that it gives Laura Mulvey's concept of "phallocentrism" a whole different angle to explore - that it ultimately isn't worth sitting through the amount of trivial nonsense to get to that particular scene.
We're not even in February yet and this year has already been incredibly interesting for comedies. After seeing "Ride Along 2," I didn't think many more comedies of the year would get much worse than that. Then I saw "Dirty Grandpa" the following week and I thought the same thing; there was most likely the weakest comedy of 2016 that I would have to sit through. Now, almost exactly a week later, I've seen "Fifty Shades of Black," and if this isn't the worst comedy of 2016, I seriously fear what I have to endure in the coming eleven months.
- StevePulaski
- Jan 28, 2016
- Permalink
- stevendbeard
- Jan 28, 2016
- Permalink
- The_Celluloid_Sage
- Apr 5, 2020
- Permalink
Let me preface this by saying I have never seen 50 Shades of Grey. I've seen the reviews, I know the story, but after seeing 50 Shades of Black I feel like I've seen the actual movie it was parodying. Wayans' comedies have devolved from clever self-aware satires to blatant movie rip-offs with sporadic laughs. The difference is, unlike the Haunted House movies, there are next to no laughs in 50 Shades of Black. It's essentially deconstructing every scene in 50 Shades of Grey to show the audience how dumb it is, which would be fine if it was actually funny. But no, this humor is scraped right from the bottom of the barrel, reusing the same stupid gags from previous spoofs and rehashed awkward shock "humor" that comes across more cringe-worthy than anything.
I like Marlon Wayans, I really do. He seems like an awesome guy and he was actually a great writer one point, and a great actor too (to this day I'm blown away by his performance in Requiem for a Dream), but his talents must have gone to his head because he isn't tapping into his genius anymore. It's just easy joke after easy joke, and as simple as the jokes are, none of them land. In fact, at one point after a painfully awkward dinner scene that went on 5 minutes too long, I couldn't help but laugh, for the wrong reasons mind you, thinking, "Jesus Christ, this is a real movie?" It was painful.
All of me wanted this movie to be good, but part of me knew it would be a disaster. Well, that part of me was right. Sure, I chuckled at a few scenes, but I also chuckled a few times in A Haunted House 2 and that's still a terrible movie. The difference is 50 Shades of Grey is even lazier and somehow even less clever than AHH2. I anxiously await the day the Wayans brothers come out with another great spoof movie, but I have a feeling it's going to be a long, long wait.
I like Marlon Wayans, I really do. He seems like an awesome guy and he was actually a great writer one point, and a great actor too (to this day I'm blown away by his performance in Requiem for a Dream), but his talents must have gone to his head because he isn't tapping into his genius anymore. It's just easy joke after easy joke, and as simple as the jokes are, none of them land. In fact, at one point after a painfully awkward dinner scene that went on 5 minutes too long, I couldn't help but laugh, for the wrong reasons mind you, thinking, "Jesus Christ, this is a real movie?" It was painful.
All of me wanted this movie to be good, but part of me knew it would be a disaster. Well, that part of me was right. Sure, I chuckled at a few scenes, but I also chuckled a few times in A Haunted House 2 and that's still a terrible movie. The difference is 50 Shades of Grey is even lazier and somehow even less clever than AHH2. I anxiously await the day the Wayans brothers come out with another great spoof movie, but I have a feeling it's going to be a long, long wait.
After weeks of being teased by the trailer I was so excited to see this film! I was expecting 50 Shades Of Grey meets Scary Movie- you know, a parody that actually worked. But I couldn't have been more wrong. It was more 50 Shades Of Shite.
Five minutes in to the film and I knew i'd spend the remaining 1 hour 27 minutes with my palm on my forehead, cringing for my life at it's stupidity.The film had potential to be very funny but the idea was crushed by the terrible acting, and pathetic excuse for dark humor. I can account for the two times, throughout the whole movie, I let out a slight giggle- well it was more of a scoff but at least it triggered some kind of emotion eh.
As a kid I loved the Haunted House and Marlon Wayans was brilliant in it; I think this is why I expected great things. I think he should stick to his PG rating films. It's crude sexual content contained stereotypical 'humor' that could be considered racist towards African American's and many people could take offence. I find it offensive that we are expected to pay as much as £5 to watch this. Watching paint dry is more entertaining.
I was counting down the painful minutes, praying for the movie to end. When it did, sheer disappointment and disgust was how I was left feeling about this movie. This film is a waste of time and a waste of a cinema slot.
Five minutes in to the film and I knew i'd spend the remaining 1 hour 27 minutes with my palm on my forehead, cringing for my life at it's stupidity.The film had potential to be very funny but the idea was crushed by the terrible acting, and pathetic excuse for dark humor. I can account for the two times, throughout the whole movie, I let out a slight giggle- well it was more of a scoff but at least it triggered some kind of emotion eh.
As a kid I loved the Haunted House and Marlon Wayans was brilliant in it; I think this is why I expected great things. I think he should stick to his PG rating films. It's crude sexual content contained stereotypical 'humor' that could be considered racist towards African American's and many people could take offence. I find it offensive that we are expected to pay as much as £5 to watch this. Watching paint dry is more entertaining.
I was counting down the painful minutes, praying for the movie to end. When it did, sheer disappointment and disgust was how I was left feeling about this movie. This film is a waste of time and a waste of a cinema slot.
- oliviafrancesca_x
- Feb 16, 2016
- Permalink
The Fifty Shades of Grey, which this movie is spoofing, was nearly as bad as this one....Nearly. When i saw the preview for this movie i was actually excited to go and watch it. I eventually got tired of watching thrillers and action movies and wanted to just laugh at stupid people. The problem is i only got the stupid people part but no laughs.
It's was dull, egregious, embarrassing, and just plain stupid. The funny days of Scary Movie 1 and 2 are long gone for the creators of this crap fest. Their once promising comedy future has inevitably burned out.
I don not recommend this movie at all. Under no circumstances should anyone view this garbage. Side effects will include: abdominal pain, lower your IQ level, headache, anger, throwing objects at the screen, and financial bankruptcy.
A huge number of the black audience actually got up half way through the movie and walked out, but then there were only 15 people in the theater opening day, I wish i did the same but i stayed since i spend $22 dollars and was trying to get my money's worth. It wasn't. Watch Kung Fu Panda 3. You'll get more laughs and joy for your money. Cheers!
It's was dull, egregious, embarrassing, and just plain stupid. The funny days of Scary Movie 1 and 2 are long gone for the creators of this crap fest. Their once promising comedy future has inevitably burned out.
I don not recommend this movie at all. Under no circumstances should anyone view this garbage. Side effects will include: abdominal pain, lower your IQ level, headache, anger, throwing objects at the screen, and financial bankruptcy.
A huge number of the black audience actually got up half way through the movie and walked out, but then there were only 15 people in the theater opening day, I wish i did the same but i stayed since i spend $22 dollars and was trying to get my money's worth. It wasn't. Watch Kung Fu Panda 3. You'll get more laughs and joy for your money. Cheers!
- stevenfreekin
- Feb 2, 2016
- Permalink
I have always been a huge fan of parodies, so I was looking forward to this movie. My expectations were realistic. Puns, slapstick humor, and generally sophomoric humor are fine by me. These parodies don't take themselves too seriously, and neither do I. The wife and I went to the theater expecting some lighthearted fun. But, what we saw was anything but fun or funny.
This film's attempts to parody the plot of Fifty Shades of Grey were overshadowed by the stilted dialogue, lame sight gags, and ineffectual attempts to get a rise out of the audience with tired racial stereotyping and racist humor. Sexual humor was expected. But I did expect some of it to be funny. It wasn't. Most of the gags in the film were greeted by dead silence in the theater and blank stares at the screen by my fellow theater goers.
We talked about walking out of the movie after the first scene, and every scene after that until we finally did walk out 20 minutes into the movie.
Maybe there was a funny joke in that movie later on, but I am sure I will not be giving this movie a second chance. It is one of the worst movies I have even seen.
This film's attempts to parody the plot of Fifty Shades of Grey were overshadowed by the stilted dialogue, lame sight gags, and ineffectual attempts to get a rise out of the audience with tired racial stereotyping and racist humor. Sexual humor was expected. But I did expect some of it to be funny. It wasn't. Most of the gags in the film were greeted by dead silence in the theater and blank stares at the screen by my fellow theater goers.
We talked about walking out of the movie after the first scene, and every scene after that until we finally did walk out 20 minutes into the movie.
Maybe there was a funny joke in that movie later on, but I am sure I will not be giving this movie a second chance. It is one of the worst movies I have even seen.
- eladale-90211
- Jan 30, 2016
- Permalink
How the heck does tripe like Fifty Shades of Black get funding let alone distribution? It makes Fifty Shades of Grey look like Shakespeare. Crap like this certainly doesn't help the diversity argument. Personally I would never employ any of the participating actors; black, white or any other skin colour ever again. They were all an absolute disgrace. There are films released this week that people will struggle to find whilst this garbage will stink up cinemas up and down the country for at least a week. God knows why I stayed so long but I eventually walked as no way was I going to miss my last bus home for this bilge. If you are given the choice of being tortured or watching this; I urge you to choose the torture. It won't be anywhere near as painful. Trust me
Here is my review in short. DO NOT SEE THIS FILM. It sucks worse than fifty shades of grey.. which is an absolute trainwreck. I didn't pay, but feel bad for giving any of my time to the film and as well as being unfunny it is incredibly boring, racist and horrendus. I chuckled about twice and one of those times was coz fifty shades of grey was read as a torture technique.. so well played. There was a skit involving whiplash which may have been bearable on SNL but not here.
All i will say is save your time and oxygen. Go and be with your family, be anywhere but here. Quite frankly i saw 10 Cloverfield Lane today and i'd rather talk about that so.. see ya.
All i will say is save your time and oxygen. Go and be with your family, be anywhere but here. Quite frankly i saw 10 Cloverfield Lane today and i'd rather talk about that so.. see ya.
- kieranbattams
- Mar 17, 2016
- Permalink
The absolutely worst movie I've seen thus far.
As a parody of "Fifty Shades of Grey", one only expects cheesy, lewd sex jokes. However, this movie is an absolute disgrace, every single scene felt like a direct and personal attack to my intelligence. Even cheesy parodies can have some intellect and level of tastefulness.
Marlon Wayans disgraces himself, his family's brilliant comedy legacy and the also film discipline.
As a parody of "Fifty Shades of Grey", one only expects cheesy, lewd sex jokes. However, this movie is an absolute disgrace, every single scene felt like a direct and personal attack to my intelligence. Even cheesy parodies can have some intellect and level of tastefulness.
Marlon Wayans disgraces himself, his family's brilliant comedy legacy and the also film discipline.
I did the world a favour by throwing this dvd in the garbage.
I grew up on the Wayans brothers comedy, so expected something funny, or at least slightly silly from them.
Nope.
This was without a doubt the worst movie ever made. In 1000 years archaeologists are going to dig this nonsense up and judge as harshly for it.
"This was right before the collapse of humanity" they'll say, "You can unquestionably see it coming after only 5 minutes of this nonsense."
Are the brothers okay? I genuinely worry for them. Have they been taken out and replaced by robots or something? How can the people who brought us White Chicks think this is something to put your name to? I want to take them to lunch and beg them to find new careers.
I grew up on the Wayans brothers comedy, so expected something funny, or at least slightly silly from them.
Nope.
This was without a doubt the worst movie ever made. In 1000 years archaeologists are going to dig this nonsense up and judge as harshly for it.
"This was right before the collapse of humanity" they'll say, "You can unquestionably see it coming after only 5 minutes of this nonsense."
Are the brothers okay? I genuinely worry for them. Have they been taken out and replaced by robots or something? How can the people who brought us White Chicks think this is something to put your name to? I want to take them to lunch and beg them to find new careers.
- Harlequin-Rose
- Mar 20, 2023
- Permalink
People should be used to the kind of humor coming from movies with Marlon Wayans, so I don't get the point of people complaining the humor was offensive. If it's not your thing it's obvious you won't like it, the least you can do is learn that some actors/directors make movies you simply don't like.
I only new enough about 50 shades (the book) and can't tell there is no need to watch the movie before watching this.
At the beginning the movie doesn't really know where it's going, but after a while it finds its pace and delivers. Me and my friends had good laughs.
I only new enough about 50 shades (the book) and can't tell there is no need to watch the movie before watching this.
At the beginning the movie doesn't really know where it's going, but after a while it finds its pace and delivers. Me and my friends had good laughs.
Marlon takes aim at everyone in his humor in this movie. I found his political jokes quite funny.
I really enjoyed the way they laid it into the writers and makers of the original movie. I never saw it because I thought the entire premise was sick and ridiculous. My view of that movie is pretty much in line with Marlon's, and his remake gave me many good laughs.
There were many parts which could offend women, different races, political views, but especially fans of the original movie. lol.
He does not hold back though, and I always find him to be original and funny. Just a little more effort and time on some of these and he could make them much bigger for all to enjoy. Thanks Marlon for all your works.
I really enjoyed the way they laid it into the writers and makers of the original movie. I never saw it because I thought the entire premise was sick and ridiculous. My view of that movie is pretty much in line with Marlon's, and his remake gave me many good laughs.
There were many parts which could offend women, different races, political views, but especially fans of the original movie. lol.
He does not hold back though, and I always find him to be original and funny. Just a little more effort and time on some of these and he could make them much bigger for all to enjoy. Thanks Marlon for all your works.
- amandahakimi
- Mar 25, 2017
- Permalink
I find it strange that Marlon Wayans found the need to parody what is already hands down the funnest movie of 2015. Does a bad movie, really need a parody? Seems redundant, but they did it.
50 shades of black has some decent jokes that poke fun at how outrageous 50 Shades of Grey is (although my favorite bit was one that parodied Whiplash with Florence Henderson playing a music teacher training young boys to use their "instruments"), but the laughs are not constant enough through the entire movie to justify the money spent.
It's good that Wanyans has no problem making light of himself, cause it's those skits that made for the most laugh out loud experience , but he also has no problem making a joke at someone else's expense. I probability would not care if the jokes were funny. There recent though, with a joke about the 2016 presidential campaign thrown in the mix.
It's packed with enough laughs to get something out of it, but the material used to make this was too weak itself for this movie to be all that good.
50 shades of black has some decent jokes that poke fun at how outrageous 50 Shades of Grey is (although my favorite bit was one that parodied Whiplash with Florence Henderson playing a music teacher training young boys to use their "instruments"), but the laughs are not constant enough through the entire movie to justify the money spent.
It's good that Wanyans has no problem making light of himself, cause it's those skits that made for the most laugh out loud experience , but he also has no problem making a joke at someone else's expense. I probability would not care if the jokes were funny. There recent though, with a joke about the 2016 presidential campaign thrown in the mix.
It's packed with enough laughs to get something out of it, but the material used to make this was too weak itself for this movie to be all that good.
- subxerogravity
- Jan 28, 2016
- Permalink
It was only a matter of time that someone came along and spoofed the widely popular and highly alluring pop-culture phenomenon that was Fifty Shades of Grey. What isn't surprising is that spoof specialist and kinda, sorta washed up actor/writer Marlon Wayans was the one to do so. Wayans, whose previous parody films include A Haunted House 1 & 2, Dance Flick and Scary Movie 1-4 brings forth a very important question with his newest spoof feature Fifty Shades of Black; is the spoof film finally, officially dead?
Its hard to believe but, after such classics as Airplane!, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and yes, even the original Scary Movie, the spoof film may slowly if not almost entirely die off and be resting in peace very soon.
The world currently is one that is obsessed with social media platforms and media within these social networks. Thanks to applications such as Vine, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, it seems that audiences everywhere are capable of finding comedy and entertainment, not only within the comfort of their own homes, but as easily and accessibly, within moments, within the palms of their hand.
When the dawn of the television was upon us, people everywhere thought that televisions were going to destroy Hollywood and the history of feature films altogether; it didn't. With the rise of the Internet and the quickly developing moment of streaming and illegally downloading films and music online, people soon thought that the future of movies and music was on its way on the decline. Yet, in 2015 no less, two of the highest grossing films of all-time were released, and more than ever, the profitability of music has never been better. So, how and why is the spoof film genre dying slowly but surely?
The thing about entertainment in 2016 is that, entertainment isn't merely measured but numbers and margins, but by memories and moments of experience and spectacle, with margins and numbers as well. Entertainment is constantly evolving, and the forms in which we consume entertainment maintains the ways in which we determine whether the entertainment itself is viable, or not. The thing with earlier spoof films like the ones that were mentioned above are, in order to consume such comedy, going to the movie theatres and watching it for yourself was the only way of consumption. Now a days, not only are films, genres and characters spoofed on the daily, but pop culture, with the help of social media, spoofs the crap out of anything and everything. Don't think thats the case? Think back, just in 2015, to all the spoofs you saw online about Adele's song Hello, Drake's music video to Hotline Bling, as well as anything else flooding the front pages of your vine, Instagram and Facebook news feeds.
The beauty behind the genius in the earlier spoof films of the 80's and 90's was that accessibility was limited and, these films weren't just spoofing a specific movie, having limited content to work with. Think of Austin Powers for example, it wasn't just a spoof on spy films and a filmography of more than a dozen Bond films at that time, but also a genre, the unbelievability of a lifestyle or profession little to nothing is known about, as well as providing a fantasy for the possibility of the many beauties the life of what an international person of mystery might really be like. Sure, Black may spoof Kim K for a second, the Weeknd here and there, but overall, these small and insignificant and highly forgettable inclusions did nothing to elevate the plot or humour of the film overall.
If you're wondering why I haven't really mentioned the plot line or story of Black, well, thats because the film is basically a shot-for-shot carbon copy of the original Grey film, with added crass and crude black jokes included, sexual innuendos juiced up to the max and of course, taking what the original did, and making it funny by stripping away its glamorous and polished exterior; essentially, making it real world scary for real life people. No matter how you look at it, regardless of how much money you have, any girl would be scared of having a wealthy man stalking you at work asking for ropes and zip-ties and what not.
What I found super interesting with Black was how the film is slowly accepting and transitioning from movie stars, to social media stars starring within feature films. Sure we've seen Vine stars make cameos in films before, like Brittany Furland in last year's We Are Your Friends, but in Black, social media icon King Back/Andrew Bachelor has a very prominent role as the not so subtle yet totally obvious best friend Jesse that wants a piece, like any other straight male friend wants from their female friends. Bach represents not only a dominance of social media within feature films, but perhaps, the next phase and new generation of movies stars tomorrow. Plus, is it just me or does Bach remind anyone else of a younger Will Smith?
Sure Black states the obvious humours that we found in the original Grey film, but the beauty of Fifty Shades of Grey was that it knew that it was going to be the basis to much criticism, the butt end of endless jokes and spoof online for weeks and months after its release. Luckily for the film, made on only $40 million dollar, its return really laughed in all the faces of sceptics and all its negative criticism. Fifty Shades of Grey broke these records; highest grossing film directed by a woman, highest grossing February release and #1 President Day 4-Day Holiday Weekend (all of these numbers NOT adjusted for inflation). So I guess, the joke is on us, especially since they numbers and records are bound to be broken once the newest instalment of the series is released in 2017.
Its hard to believe but, after such classics as Airplane!, Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and yes, even the original Scary Movie, the spoof film may slowly if not almost entirely die off and be resting in peace very soon.
The world currently is one that is obsessed with social media platforms and media within these social networks. Thanks to applications such as Vine, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat and YouTube, it seems that audiences everywhere are capable of finding comedy and entertainment, not only within the comfort of their own homes, but as easily and accessibly, within moments, within the palms of their hand.
When the dawn of the television was upon us, people everywhere thought that televisions were going to destroy Hollywood and the history of feature films altogether; it didn't. With the rise of the Internet and the quickly developing moment of streaming and illegally downloading films and music online, people soon thought that the future of movies and music was on its way on the decline. Yet, in 2015 no less, two of the highest grossing films of all-time were released, and more than ever, the profitability of music has never been better. So, how and why is the spoof film genre dying slowly but surely?
The thing about entertainment in 2016 is that, entertainment isn't merely measured but numbers and margins, but by memories and moments of experience and spectacle, with margins and numbers as well. Entertainment is constantly evolving, and the forms in which we consume entertainment maintains the ways in which we determine whether the entertainment itself is viable, or not. The thing with earlier spoof films like the ones that were mentioned above are, in order to consume such comedy, going to the movie theatres and watching it for yourself was the only way of consumption. Now a days, not only are films, genres and characters spoofed on the daily, but pop culture, with the help of social media, spoofs the crap out of anything and everything. Don't think thats the case? Think back, just in 2015, to all the spoofs you saw online about Adele's song Hello, Drake's music video to Hotline Bling, as well as anything else flooding the front pages of your vine, Instagram and Facebook news feeds.
The beauty behind the genius in the earlier spoof films of the 80's and 90's was that accessibility was limited and, these films weren't just spoofing a specific movie, having limited content to work with. Think of Austin Powers for example, it wasn't just a spoof on spy films and a filmography of more than a dozen Bond films at that time, but also a genre, the unbelievability of a lifestyle or profession little to nothing is known about, as well as providing a fantasy for the possibility of the many beauties the life of what an international person of mystery might really be like. Sure, Black may spoof Kim K for a second, the Weeknd here and there, but overall, these small and insignificant and highly forgettable inclusions did nothing to elevate the plot or humour of the film overall.
If you're wondering why I haven't really mentioned the plot line or story of Black, well, thats because the film is basically a shot-for-shot carbon copy of the original Grey film, with added crass and crude black jokes included, sexual innuendos juiced up to the max and of course, taking what the original did, and making it funny by stripping away its glamorous and polished exterior; essentially, making it real world scary for real life people. No matter how you look at it, regardless of how much money you have, any girl would be scared of having a wealthy man stalking you at work asking for ropes and zip-ties and what not.
What I found super interesting with Black was how the film is slowly accepting and transitioning from movie stars, to social media stars starring within feature films. Sure we've seen Vine stars make cameos in films before, like Brittany Furland in last year's We Are Your Friends, but in Black, social media icon King Back/Andrew Bachelor has a very prominent role as the not so subtle yet totally obvious best friend Jesse that wants a piece, like any other straight male friend wants from their female friends. Bach represents not only a dominance of social media within feature films, but perhaps, the next phase and new generation of movies stars tomorrow. Plus, is it just me or does Bach remind anyone else of a younger Will Smith?
Sure Black states the obvious humours that we found in the original Grey film, but the beauty of Fifty Shades of Grey was that it knew that it was going to be the basis to much criticism, the butt end of endless jokes and spoof online for weeks and months after its release. Luckily for the film, made on only $40 million dollar, its return really laughed in all the faces of sceptics and all its negative criticism. Fifty Shades of Grey broke these records; highest grossing film directed by a woman, highest grossing February release and #1 President Day 4-Day Holiday Weekend (all of these numbers NOT adjusted for inflation). So I guess, the joke is on us, especially since they numbers and records are bound to be broken once the newest instalment of the series is released in 2017.
- lucasnochez
- Feb 9, 2016
- Permalink
The Wayans Family has created quite an entertainment dynasty over the past three decades or so. Long before anyone had heard of Tyler Perry, the Wayans Brothers, as most people refer to them, started creating big and small screen entertainment that catered to the African-American audience. The Wayans brought us the sketch comedy show "In Living Color" (1990-1994) which, in turn, helped launch the careers of Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx and David Alan Grier, among others, as well as films like "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988), "Major Payne" (1995) and the "Scary Movie" horror film parodies (2000-2013).
The Wayans are mostly known for their parodies. 2016 adds another one to the list with Marlon, the youngest of the original "Wayans Brothers", co-writing and starring in "Fifty Shades of Black" (R, 1:31). Most will immediately recognize that this film is a take-off on 2015's very successful film adaptation of the book "Fifty Shades of Grey". Like most of the Wayans' films, pop culture and movie references abound, but "Fifty Shades of Black" duplicates much of the plot of the film that inspired its comedy. You'll see what I mean in the following plot summary (which, by the way, is necessarily risqué).
Hannah Steele (Kali Hawk) is an attractive and intelligent college senior in Washington State who fills in for her sick roommate, Kateesha (Jenny Zigrino) in interviewing billionaire business magnate Christian Black (Marlon Wayans) for the college newspaper. Hannah gets flustered in the presence of this sophisticated, supremely-confident and mysterious man. Christian is quite taken with Hannah – and take her is what he soon decides he wants to do. He shows up at the hardware store where she works, takes her out to coffee and even comes to "rescue" her when she drunk dials him from a bar. Despite how obvious it is to the main characters and to the audience that these two are very, very different – and despite the title character's own conflicted resistance – these two cannot resist each other. But Christian very clearly states, "I don't do romance." That doesn't stop Hannah from being drawn to this man.
As Hannah discovers more about the cipher that is Christian, she learns that he is wounded – both emotionally and physically – by his childhood. She seems to want to comfort this man who acts as if he needs no comforting and begins to love this man who tells her that he is only interested in her for sex. Being the woman in Christian Black's life means submitting completely – sexually and otherwise – to his whims. As he eases her towards an understanding and acceptance of his lifestyle, she has to sign a non-disclosure agreement, he convinces her to have sex (actually "f--- hard", as he describes it) and then shows her his "playroom." This usually locked room is painted dark red, has a bed and is filled with various restraining devices and implements of sadomasochistic sex play. Hannah is shocked, but not necessarily repulsed. Christian presents his contract which describes Hannah's role as his submissive.
I just did something I've never done before (or even been remotely able to do) in a movie review. The previous two paragraphs are actually cut and pasted from my 2015 review of "Fifty Shades of Grey"! Using the "find/replace" function in Microsoft Word, I changed the names of the characters and the actors playing them to match those in "Fifty Shades of Black" and I shortened the summary, but I did not add or change anything else. (You can scroll down our timeline to my "Grey" review to see for yourself.) But rest assured there's plenty in "Black" besides just recreating and making fun of scenes from "Grey". "Fifty Shades of Black" also seamlessly incorporates Wayans-esque versions of scenes from such movies as "Whiplash" and "Magic Mike". There are also references to a plethora of other popular movies, TV shows and books, plus a generous helping of pop culture satire and some politics. This is the kind of film which is so fresh, it feels like it was written a month before its release, but that means that its humor (and perhaps its appeal) will quickly become dated. Of course, there's also plenty of racial humor, much of it stemming from white actors Jane Seymour and Fred Willard playing the title character's parents.
Like much of the Wayans' work, "Fifty Shades of Black" is very funny in spots, but those spots are small and spread out. The few clever/amusing jokes and sight gags and even fewer laugh-out-loud moments seem adrift in a sea of gross-out humor and over-the-top acting which is often not that funny. Still, most Wayans fans will probably enjoy the film and those who've only seen a little of their work may find this one good enough for a mild recommendation. "B-"
The Wayans are mostly known for their parodies. 2016 adds another one to the list with Marlon, the youngest of the original "Wayans Brothers", co-writing and starring in "Fifty Shades of Black" (R, 1:31). Most will immediately recognize that this film is a take-off on 2015's very successful film adaptation of the book "Fifty Shades of Grey". Like most of the Wayans' films, pop culture and movie references abound, but "Fifty Shades of Black" duplicates much of the plot of the film that inspired its comedy. You'll see what I mean in the following plot summary (which, by the way, is necessarily risqué).
Hannah Steele (Kali Hawk) is an attractive and intelligent college senior in Washington State who fills in for her sick roommate, Kateesha (Jenny Zigrino) in interviewing billionaire business magnate Christian Black (Marlon Wayans) for the college newspaper. Hannah gets flustered in the presence of this sophisticated, supremely-confident and mysterious man. Christian is quite taken with Hannah – and take her is what he soon decides he wants to do. He shows up at the hardware store where she works, takes her out to coffee and even comes to "rescue" her when she drunk dials him from a bar. Despite how obvious it is to the main characters and to the audience that these two are very, very different – and despite the title character's own conflicted resistance – these two cannot resist each other. But Christian very clearly states, "I don't do romance." That doesn't stop Hannah from being drawn to this man.
As Hannah discovers more about the cipher that is Christian, she learns that he is wounded – both emotionally and physically – by his childhood. She seems to want to comfort this man who acts as if he needs no comforting and begins to love this man who tells her that he is only interested in her for sex. Being the woman in Christian Black's life means submitting completely – sexually and otherwise – to his whims. As he eases her towards an understanding and acceptance of his lifestyle, she has to sign a non-disclosure agreement, he convinces her to have sex (actually "f--- hard", as he describes it) and then shows her his "playroom." This usually locked room is painted dark red, has a bed and is filled with various restraining devices and implements of sadomasochistic sex play. Hannah is shocked, but not necessarily repulsed. Christian presents his contract which describes Hannah's role as his submissive.
I just did something I've never done before (or even been remotely able to do) in a movie review. The previous two paragraphs are actually cut and pasted from my 2015 review of "Fifty Shades of Grey"! Using the "find/replace" function in Microsoft Word, I changed the names of the characters and the actors playing them to match those in "Fifty Shades of Black" and I shortened the summary, but I did not add or change anything else. (You can scroll down our timeline to my "Grey" review to see for yourself.) But rest assured there's plenty in "Black" besides just recreating and making fun of scenes from "Grey". "Fifty Shades of Black" also seamlessly incorporates Wayans-esque versions of scenes from such movies as "Whiplash" and "Magic Mike". There are also references to a plethora of other popular movies, TV shows and books, plus a generous helping of pop culture satire and some politics. This is the kind of film which is so fresh, it feels like it was written a month before its release, but that means that its humor (and perhaps its appeal) will quickly become dated. Of course, there's also plenty of racial humor, much of it stemming from white actors Jane Seymour and Fred Willard playing the title character's parents.
Like much of the Wayans' work, "Fifty Shades of Black" is very funny in spots, but those spots are small and spread out. The few clever/amusing jokes and sight gags and even fewer laugh-out-loud moments seem adrift in a sea of gross-out humor and over-the-top acting which is often not that funny. Still, most Wayans fans will probably enjoy the film and those who've only seen a little of their work may find this one good enough for a mild recommendation. "B-"
- dave-mcclain
- Jan 28, 2016
- Permalink
"Fifty Shades of Black" is yet another film in the idiotic teenager parody genre. This overused genre consists of many movies currently on IMDB's Bottom 100 list....with the likes of "Disaster Movie" (#1), "Epic Movie" (#12), "Date Movie" (#24), "Scary Movie V" (#50), "The Starving Games" (#44) and "Extreme Movie" (#99). "Fifty Shades of Black", incidentally, is #65 on this infamous list of badness. Unlike other films in this god-awful genre, this film is a parody of another film on the infamous Bottom 100 list, the original "Fifty Shades of Gray" (#92).
This film is a bit different from the other crappy parodies I mentioned above. It is more a silly version of the original film and is NOT a parody of a dozen or more other films (which the above garbage films all are). Also, not surprisingly, it's MUCH more sexually-oriented...as "Fifty Shades of Gray" was a highly sexualized story. But this is much more crude than I even expected...and crude and unfunny scenes were piled on atop the other! It also has a lot of content that might make the more left-leaning audience members cringe or become furious. The leading man in this film is rich and successful like the one in the original story...BUT because he's black (Marlon Wayans), he says he made his fortune selling crack and sucking....well...IMDB won't let me say more about that. This is NOT the most positive and uplifting sort of black man, that's for sure!
As far as the story goes, it's terrible....so terrible I found I much preferred the original film...which I still strongly dislike. Yes, they managed to make a worse version of an already terrible movie! Offensive, brain-numbingly stupid, crude beyond belief, and, sadly, a film marketed mostly towards younger folks (whose growing brains really don't need this!). Currently, this film is #65 on the Bottom 100....I think that is way, way too generous...especially after seeing the Florence Henderson (I am NOT kidding) sex scene!
This film is a bit different from the other crappy parodies I mentioned above. It is more a silly version of the original film and is NOT a parody of a dozen or more other films (which the above garbage films all are). Also, not surprisingly, it's MUCH more sexually-oriented...as "Fifty Shades of Gray" was a highly sexualized story. But this is much more crude than I even expected...and crude and unfunny scenes were piled on atop the other! It also has a lot of content that might make the more left-leaning audience members cringe or become furious. The leading man in this film is rich and successful like the one in the original story...BUT because he's black (Marlon Wayans), he says he made his fortune selling crack and sucking....well...IMDB won't let me say more about that. This is NOT the most positive and uplifting sort of black man, that's for sure!
As far as the story goes, it's terrible....so terrible I found I much preferred the original film...which I still strongly dislike. Yes, they managed to make a worse version of an already terrible movie! Offensive, brain-numbingly stupid, crude beyond belief, and, sadly, a film marketed mostly towards younger folks (whose growing brains really don't need this!). Currently, this film is #65 on the Bottom 100....I think that is way, way too generous...especially after seeing the Florence Henderson (I am NOT kidding) sex scene!
- planktonrules
- Nov 5, 2018
- Permalink
This film tells the story of a young woman who interviews a rich businessman.
When you watch a parody, you know it is exactly what it is that you are watching. It is ridiculous, scandalous and gross, but it works. The film is so funny that I just cannot stop laughing. The sets are really stylish as well, so it is not the typical cheap parody.
When you watch a parody, you know it is exactly what it is that you are watching. It is ridiculous, scandalous and gross, but it works. The film is so funny that I just cannot stop laughing. The sets are really stylish as well, so it is not the typical cheap parody.
Fifty Shades of Black serves as the second Fifty Shades movie and the reality that these movies are still being made, even though the cast and crew knows that it sucks, but they don't care because they are just now have enough money to spend the year in Las Vegas. It's already starting to cause me even more pain.
This movie serves as a parody to Fifty Shades of Grey, but the bad thing about it is that it is not even funny or different from the same old toilet humour that is used so often in comedy movies nowadays. There was not one moment where I chuckled or even sniggered. I think I did laugh, but that might have been at the movie not with the awful cliché jokes that I've already heard in these comedy movies.
And it's such a shame to see a talented actor like Marlon Wayans, who before offered a fantastic turn with Requiem for a Dream and then made us chuckle with the first two Scary Movie films, and then to see that talent wasted in this abomination of a parody movie. I hate it when actors just become overpaid tools in movies that they know are bad but they are just in it for the money, when they know that they are better than that.
The thing is that Fifty Shades of Grey was anything but a good movie to start off with, so parodying a movie that is already bad doesn't make it any better or more enjoyable. I mean, this movie could've been funny in some places, but the dick and ball jokes that this movie overuses so many times just failed to hit.
Not to mention it's out of place references to other movies, not just Fifty Shades of Grey, but you can tell from the poster that it's making those references just to try to be funnier, and to their credit, no, they failed.
If you watch one movie early this year, Fifty Shades of Black is definitely not worth recommending when you really should just buy another ticket for Deadpool.
Overall rating 1/10.
This movie serves as a parody to Fifty Shades of Grey, but the bad thing about it is that it is not even funny or different from the same old toilet humour that is used so often in comedy movies nowadays. There was not one moment where I chuckled or even sniggered. I think I did laugh, but that might have been at the movie not with the awful cliché jokes that I've already heard in these comedy movies.
And it's such a shame to see a talented actor like Marlon Wayans, who before offered a fantastic turn with Requiem for a Dream and then made us chuckle with the first two Scary Movie films, and then to see that talent wasted in this abomination of a parody movie. I hate it when actors just become overpaid tools in movies that they know are bad but they are just in it for the money, when they know that they are better than that.
The thing is that Fifty Shades of Grey was anything but a good movie to start off with, so parodying a movie that is already bad doesn't make it any better or more enjoyable. I mean, this movie could've been funny in some places, but the dick and ball jokes that this movie overuses so many times just failed to hit.
Not to mention it's out of place references to other movies, not just Fifty Shades of Grey, but you can tell from the poster that it's making those references just to try to be funnier, and to their credit, no, they failed.
If you watch one movie early this year, Fifty Shades of Black is definitely not worth recommending when you really should just buy another ticket for Deadpool.
Overall rating 1/10.
- apstylianou
- Mar 3, 2016
- Permalink
Fifty Shades Of Black Spoof of Fifty Shades Of Grey, College graduate Hannah Steele enters a complicated relationship with wealthy businessman Christian Black.
Deep,deep joy. Another painfully unfunny spoof that takes nearly all it's material from previously made content. That is the basic definition of Fifty Shades of Black. There was only one point during this film that I wanted to laugh but because of how bad the rest of the film was I couldn't. There are two main problems with this film. 1. The script is really, really awful and is not funny in any way and 2. Nobody in this film can act! Those are two vital things to make a comedy funny the acting and the script and if both of these fail then the film is just terrible, which is what this pile of trash is. All jokes are about Fifty Shades Of Grey and it's content and might as well be an adaptation of a joke book of painfully unfunny sex jokes. There are so many moments intended to make people laugh but just end up being horribly cringe worthy moments because of either what can be seen or just what is being said. There were points where people moaned in disgust at the goings on on screen and the majority of the film was spent in silence. In total two different people ,out of 13, laughed at two different points, 3 people walked out during the film because of how bad it was.Nearly all of the characters in the film are annoying and this is made even worse by the terrible acting. During the film Marlon Wayans character describes something as "painfully uninteresting" and something else as being written by someone in year 3. Fifty Shades of Black is painfully unfunny and boring and could have been written by a dirty minded 8 year old. But then again the 8 year old would have probably wrote something much more entertaining and funnier.
It isn't as bad as other parody films but Fifty Shades Of Black is still a seriously unfunny film and is definitely one of the worst films of 2016. ** <-- Two Stars
Deep,deep joy. Another painfully unfunny spoof that takes nearly all it's material from previously made content. That is the basic definition of Fifty Shades of Black. There was only one point during this film that I wanted to laugh but because of how bad the rest of the film was I couldn't. There are two main problems with this film. 1. The script is really, really awful and is not funny in any way and 2. Nobody in this film can act! Those are two vital things to make a comedy funny the acting and the script and if both of these fail then the film is just terrible, which is what this pile of trash is. All jokes are about Fifty Shades Of Grey and it's content and might as well be an adaptation of a joke book of painfully unfunny sex jokes. There are so many moments intended to make people laugh but just end up being horribly cringe worthy moments because of either what can be seen or just what is being said. There were points where people moaned in disgust at the goings on on screen and the majority of the film was spent in silence. In total two different people ,out of 13, laughed at two different points, 3 people walked out during the film because of how bad it was.Nearly all of the characters in the film are annoying and this is made even worse by the terrible acting. During the film Marlon Wayans character describes something as "painfully uninteresting" and something else as being written by someone in year 3. Fifty Shades of Black is painfully unfunny and boring and could have been written by a dirty minded 8 year old. But then again the 8 year old would have probably wrote something much more entertaining and funnier.
It isn't as bad as other parody films but Fifty Shades Of Black is still a seriously unfunny film and is definitely one of the worst films of 2016. ** <-- Two Stars
- JustALittleBitRandom
- Mar 16, 2016
- Permalink
- KittyKelly1976
- Apr 5, 2016
- Permalink
People who hate Fifty Shades Of Grey (I bet there's a lot of you'se out there} will be appeased. Here, you pi..ed off many, will be compensated for your suffering. This comedy spoof, ala, Wayans, almost outdoes itself, near up there on the comedy scale with films like Bruno. They'll be chuckles aloud, in continuity. And we know if the Wayans are involved, we're not gonna be disappointed, smart brothers who know comedy but smart comedy with some gags you never see coming. They have an original style of comedy that's always a winning formula. What this film does, is that is it surprisingly sticks to the story and scene structure as the other one, almost to the letter, with some cute changes, one I particularly liked. Here, this one really takes the p..s out of the 2015 bore snore. Exciting lead, Wayans, replaces our dull Dorman, really throwing spark into the role, in top gear as Christian Black, while this time, our English lit student/journo replacement/part time hardware shop worker, and ordinary, known as Hanna, not Anastasia Steele, is wonderfully played by Hawk. From comical whippings to dejected, non helicopter/jet rides, this Fifty Shades has it all. We have some really crude moments involving male anatomy, someone who's really well endowed, shall we say. Hanna Steele's more likable flatmate here, is a chubby Rebel Wilson type who craves sex and food, and food, and food. Again we have many movie references (something I'm not really impressed by) a bit too many here, with a little bit of Zero Dark Thirty and I Spit On Your Grave 3, thrown in as well, as well as the dropping of a famous Porky's (easy lay) character. A couple of surprising co stars show up in this, like a still radiant and refined, Jane Seymour, and shocking as it is surprising, a cameo by a much recently missed Brady. This one has better everything, better script, better acting, entertainment value and appeal, for a number of reasons, most of them, laughably related. Fifty Shade's haters will love this Fifty Shades, trust me. You want something done right, different and smart, get a Wayans to do it. Good show and well made pic too.
- videorama-759-859391
- Dec 24, 2016
- Permalink
This was my first movie at a new cinema in my town, and it was...nice. I really don't like Fifty Shades of Grey (the original one), but I enjoyed this parody, and man, it has some damn hot scenes, not a movie to see with your family because it's almost porn sometimes, in my opinion. The actors doesn't perform too well, it's that kind of comedy filled with stupidity sometimes, especially from Marlon Wayans who likes to behave like a child in some of his movies, but I think the man it's hilarious the e way he is. Well, I don't have something else to say about this movie, I've seen it almost half a year on 30 January when it first launched in Romania. As you can see, I'm a Romanian guy, and it's my first time when I review a title on IMDb, also I hope this review it's spoiler free, it's my first review, so be kind with me.
- narciscosminblue
- Jul 9, 2016
- Permalink
As being a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey (although haven't seen the original), expectations of this film weren't too high as was expecting a silky over the top comedy with a few casual clever gags.
Well this film is as expected but still not very good. The plot is essentially the same as the original, just as a Marlon Wayan's version. There are a few laughs and don't decent gags but overall expected a little better. There were more misfires than hits, and a lot of jokes felt far too forced.
After all, Marian Wayan's comedies are for a selective audience and if you are familiar with his work or have enjoyed some if his previous material, you may enjoy this. Although Fifty Shades of Black isn't better than a Haunted House.
Well this film is as expected but still not very good. The plot is essentially the same as the original, just as a Marlon Wayan's version. There are a few laughs and don't decent gags but overall expected a little better. There were more misfires than hits, and a lot of jokes felt far too forced.
After all, Marian Wayan's comedies are for a selective audience and if you are familiar with his work or have enjoyed some if his previous material, you may enjoy this. Although Fifty Shades of Black isn't better than a Haunted House.