The genre of drag films has been a staple in Hollywood for decades. From the classics “Victor Victoria” and “Priscilla Queen of the Desert” to the recent “Connie and Carla” studios have often attempted to mine laughs from placing actors and actresses in gender bending situations.
In the new comedy “White Chicks”, Writer/Director Keenen Ivory Wayans has taken the formula a step further by twisting race as well as genders. The film stars Wayans younger brothers Shawn and Marlon as Kevin and Marcus. A pair of ambitious brothers who work for the FBI, but always seem to end up blowing assignments.
After a hilarious sting operation goes awry, Kevin and Marcus are left in disgrace with the real possibility of being kicked out of the agency or at the least, assigned to the worst postings available.
Hope arrives for the two wayward agents when they are assigned to protect he daughters of a wealthy hotel owner after they have been targeted for kidnapping. The fact that the agency has not been able to stop previous kidnappings has scared other agents away, and left Kevin and Marcus as the only option.
The two girls turn out to be the most annoying, vain, and stuck up spoiled brats on the planet, who have Kevin and Marcus ready to go nuts with their shallow prattle about social events and fashion. The girls aptly named Brittany and Tiffany decide to have a fit and not leave their suite when they get minor facial blemishes, leaving Kevin and Marcus in a real quandary.
In an act of desperation, the two agents pose as the snobby girls and attempt to blend in with the social elite during a pivotal social weekend in the Hamptons.
What follows is a series of funny events, as Kevin and Marcus have to contend with everything from ladies fashions, amorous suitors, a jealous wife, and catty social rivalries as well as their own co-workers in the FBI as they attempt to protect the girls and save their careers.
While at first it would be easy to dismiss “White Chicks” as just another dumb comedy, there are some truly funny moments in the film. Shawn and Marlon work well with one another and Keenan knows how to get the best from his brothers without constantly letting them get too over the top. The plot does have some giant wholes in it, but the focus is on laughs. My biggest issue was that the film lacked cohesion, as there was not always a flow between scenes. Many of the jokes worked well but the setups often seemed hurried and the transition segments seemed like an afterthought. That being said, the film has at least a dozen good laughs and is a pleasant summer diversion.
3.5 stars out of 5
