Fakin' Da Funk

I saw this movie at a preview in St. Louis years and years ago and can't stop thinking about it.

I had no expectations going in (as I was given three free passes) as I took my teenage daughter and her friend. Learning about the subject matter, I was quite anxious how it would be shown and frankly I thought it was done very well. All the race relations - it made me humbler.

First of all everyone has gone to High School with a Julian and Perry. Those independent guys who are cute, refreshing & fun to be around but not cool to date or be seen with. And the further removed from high school you are, you look back and wonder why? The acting by Dante Basco was outstanding (I had no clue who Dante was - I have since watched Dance With Me). I can't remember a film that I was so drawn in by the main character.

I've always told friends for me the mark of a good movie is the character actors and their performances. They all deliver in this movie. I'm not going to go overboard and say its the best movie the decade to me, but it is one that I would recommend. Its rare I go to a preview and actually want to go see it again.

This film leaves me breathless. It is like a prescription tonic for the credit crunch. Pam Grier is wonderful. The entire cast is a true Ambassador for Peace and Love. You add in the nasty gangleaders, the resentful waiters and the whole racism thing is controlled by professionals nonsense. It all works. I know some very cynical racists who expressed themselves above such candy floss trivia and yet whooped for Julian in the end This is my favourite feel-good film of the 90's. If you have seen it already - do yourself a favour and watch it again. Everyone needs some buttons to help them through bad economic times and I've yet to find better.

Fakin Da Funk Rules!

One thing I noticed in reading the comments of this movie is that nobody recognized the screenplay by Tim Chey. Without their screenplay the movie does not get made.

As I sit here in a Film class I am taking I understood that I should have an open mind... But a racial comedy? What was he thinking, Making us watch a comedy about an Asian kid? OK, I sat there biasly waiting for the DVD to play the So Called top ten movies of all time, and to my utter amazement and total surprise the movie did not suck. In fact I don't recall ever blinking during the show, it was Funny, Romantic- but not corny, seemed real life and race dealings - for the most part, and over all quite inspiring to me and my fellow classmates here at The University Of Kansas, KU, United States of America. I must suggest that all those who have ever seen a movie before must buy this movie and add it to their collection of all-time favorites. I guarantee that any person between the ages of 9months and 120 years will love this show and share the same enthusiasm that I have.

i happened upon this movie while channel surfing and was hooked. it explored the meaning of being "black" or "asian" culturally, and portrayed the issue; not so much as a matter of race, but rather how one identifies with a culture. julian lee is far more "black" than his love interest (tatiana ali) in the movie, who happens to be of african descent. i think this highlights an important distinction, because in america, people so quickly classify and pre-judge people based on their skin tone or facial features. i think, while the movie could have been less corny, it takes a good, light-hearted view of common stereotypes surrounding african and asian americans, and concludes with the somewhat unoriginal, yet still significant motto of "keep it real."

This film I remember was one of the highest-rated movies on cable ever and I know why - it's one of the most original, heart-felt comedies since 'Groundhog Day'. Truly loved the film and some of the endearing scenes.

Some of the best scenes involve actor John Witherspoon ('Friday'), Pam Grier, and Duane Martin (who with comedian Margaret Cho) really draw the laughs. But what I really like is the film doesn't descend into SNL humor - which is always tasteless, but maintains the Harold Ramis quality of humanity.

I'm not sure when it was released theatrically, but it should have been the next 'Rush Hour' without doubt.