Blankman (1994)

the audience applauded

Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

Unshakable, witty and deeply felt, the film will be paying emotional dividends for a long, long time.

Daryl and Kevin Walker (Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier) are brothers who grew up idolizing Batman, watching the 1960's show and dressing up and playacting crime fighting. As their neighborhood deteriorated around them, Kevin became a cameraman. Daryl may be a simple man-child, but he excels at repairing and inventing things. And he may have never given up on his dreams of being a superhero.He finally gives in to his dreams after his grandmother (Lynne Thigpen, the Chief on TV's Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?) is killed by a mobster. Despite nearly getting killed several times, Daryl becomes the media sensation known as Blankman.He even gets a love interest - Kimberly Jonez (Robin Givens) - whose kisses reduce him to a quivering mess. However, not everything is easy. Minelli's gang attacks a bank and takes the mayor hostage, tying him up and rigging the building with explosives. But Blankman can't stop every bomb and is forced to run, causing him to give up on his superheroic dreams and going to work at McDonald's.Kevin's boss Larry Stone (Jason Alexander) uses Kimberly to get an exclusive interview with Minelli. But the mobster takes over the station, so Kevin convinces Blankman to come back and stop the man who killed their grandmother. Kevin even gets his own superheroic identity as the "Other Guy." And, of course, they save the day.Blankman has really inventive set design, as Daryl's inventions are string together pieces of junk that somehow work. This film is kind of/sort of a spinoff of the In Living Color superhero that Wayans played named Handi-Man. That character was as un-PC as you can get and Blankman softens down the very rough edges.This is a time capsule of the 1990's and worth digging up to enjoy.

This was one of those funny-DUMB movies that many of us secret away as a guilty pleasure. I found a lot of warmth of character...downright heart, if you will...in this film. I'm not a big fan of the Wayans' work. I haven't been since the close of "In Living Color," but I catch myself admiring a performance here and there, such as Keenan Ivory Wayans' performance in Glimmer Man.This film, superficially, appears to be pointless except to provide mindless entertainment to the masses. But beneath that, there is sufficient meat into which viewers may sink their teeth, and which will serve as inspiration to those who have been downtrodden, regardless of the degree.The performances herein are adequate, and the comedy is well timed, if mindlessly juvenile enough to make you inwardly cringe. While this was billed as a spoof of the latest rash of superhero movies, Blankman delivers a geeky hero who saves the day, gets the girl, and warms your heart.It rates a 6.4/10 from...the Fiend :.

I remember that I wanted to see this film when it was first released, I realized that it looked very dumb, but nonetheless, I wanted to see it. So I finally got around to renting this film and I thought it was hilarious!!!The film is loaded with great jokes and very clean jokes (well, most of them). Damon Wayans was hilarious throughout the film, as was David Alan Grier, and their relationship and chemistry on film was excellent! Robin Givens looked fantastic throughout the film and does a fine acting job as well. Jason Alexander and Jon Polito were very good as well, although I have to say it was very odd seeing Jason Alexander with a shaved head.Anyhow, if you liked the film "Mystery Men", then you really ought to like this film. If you watch this film, don't take it seriously, keep in mind that this is a super-hero spoof. I truly hope you enjoy the film as much as I did. Thanks for reading,-Chris

Seriously - this is one of the most bizarre films I have ever seen. What does it want to be? A super hero pastiche? Race issues comedy? Surreal wack-fun? Not sure how favourably it can be compared to other flicks such as Meteor Man or Brother From Another Planet. There are some pretty original jokes and situations, and some very unsubtle moments which still work. it held my interest for a while, but the tone seemed all over the place. Still it has Jason (George from Seinfeld, Duckman) in it.