Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood is a 1996 hood film/comedy film. Similar to the Wayans' previous effort I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, the film spoofs a number of black, coming-of-age, 'hood films' such as Juice, Jungle Fever, South Central, Higher Learning, Do The Right Thing, Menace II Society, Poetic Justice, New Jack City, Dead Presidents, and most prominently Boyz N the Hood, all primarily released between 1985 and 1995, and also mixes the names of a few of the said titles to form the long title of the film.
Don't Be A Menace teases out the racism inherent in the popularity of 'hood movies' such as the above, irrespective of their supposed "redeeming qualities". The film suggests that the result of the massive popularity of 'hood movies' was/is that black actors are limited, in an attempt to profit from these movies' success, to similar roles, especially in the 1990s. Menace attempts to comically satirise that sociological phenomenon. Some actors in the film also starred in the films the movie parodies, a few even in the same scenes and characters.
Some of the main characters include:
- Ashtray: The main protagonist of the film, the Everyman, trying to make his way through a confusing world, is sent by his mother to live in the ghetto where his father might teach him how to become a man. Played by Shawn Wayans. Based on Tre Styles from Boyz N The Hood and Caine Lawson from Menace II Society.
- Ashtray's Mother: Ashtray's mother whose brief cameo in the beginning is ended with her abruptly delivered quote: "Sorry baby. You know there ain't no positive black females in these movies." Played by Vivica Fox. Based on Reva Devereaux from Boyz N The Hood.
- Ashtray's Father: Ashtray's temperamental role model who dispenses sage advice to his son. According to Ashtray, is only "a couple years older than me." Played by Lahmard Tate. Based on Furious Styles from Boyz N The Hood.
- Loc Dog: Ashtray's cousin. Stoner/Drug Dealer/Criminal. Drives a USPS delivery truck which is loaded in the back with ballistics. Played by Shawn Wayans' real-life brother, Marlon Wayans. Based on "O-Dog" from Menace II Society and "Doughboy" from Boyz n the Hood.
- Loc Dog's Grandma: A marijuana smoking, foul mouthed, church going old woman. Played by Helen Martin.
- Preach: Ashtray's friend. The former gang member turned 'Islamic-politically conscious' activist. Has a fetish for white girls. Based on Sharif from Menace II Society. Played by Chris Spencer
- Crazy Legs: Ashtray's friend. Was paralyzed in a drive-by. Based on Chris from Boyz N The Hood. Played by Suli McCullough
- Dashiki: The object of Ashtray's affections. A "hood mother" with seven kids by seven different men. Played by Tracey Cherelle Jones. Dashiki's address is 6969 Penetration Avenue. Based on Brandi from Boyz N The Hood, Ronnie from Menace II Society and Justice from Poetic Justice.
- Officer Self Hatred: The cop that harasses Ashtray and Loc Dog. As he has Ashtray pinned against his squad car, he goes on and on about how much he hates black people and anything black such as Wesley Snipes and Whoopi Goldberg's lips. Based on the bully cop from Boyz N The Hood. Played by Bernie Mac.
- Keisha: A possessed chick that Loc Dog meets at a late-night party and takes to the cargo hold of his truck. While proceeding to have sex with her, she morphs into a demonic version of herself and proceeds to force Loc Dog to have sex with her. It is unknown what happened after this. Played by Terri J. Vaughn
- The Mailman: Director Keenan Ivory Wayans appears at various places in the film shouting "message" whenever a moral lesson is spelled out, just in case the platitude was overlooked by the audience. At the end of the film, when Loc-Dog gives a rambling speech ending with the film's title, he appears to say "What the fuck is he talking about?".
[edit] Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on January 30, 1996 by Island Records. It peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
