It's almost ironic. Comedian Marlon Wayans calls out Tyler Perry in this film. At one point, he remarks that he's in a Tyler Perry movie. It's meant to be a fun joke, but, in a way, that's exactly what this is. It's a Tyler Perry film. It's not unlike one of Perry's Madea movies in which Perry plays the titular character, as well as a host of other characters. In Perry's last film
A Madea Family Funeral (2019), Perry played four characters all in one scene, each one more ridiculous than the last. That's exactly what Marlon Wayans is doing here. Wayans though ups the ante and plays six characters. At one point, he plays all six in one scene. However, Perry usually doesn't make his films too complicated. He keeps them in mostly one location or inside some house without too many setups or shot variations. This film, co-written by Wayans and directed by Michael Tiddes who has helmed four previous features written by Wayans, has more shot variations. The setups are a bit complicated, as it weaves the technology of one actor playing multiple characters on screen. I give this film credit in accomplishing the visual effect seamlessly and pretty convincingly. However, that's probably where the credit stops.
In a recent
interview with Jimmy Fallon, Wayans expressed how Eddie Murphy is one of his heroes and role models. Murphy has famously played multiple characters in movies like
Coming to America (1988) and
The Nutty Professor (1996). Murphy even infamously did so in
Norbit (2007) in which Wayans had a small role. Now, it seems as if Wayans is following in his hero's footsteps. Unfortunately, there isn't much of a story here. Much like Wayans' previous feature,
Naked (2017), which seemingly was an excuse to show off Wayans' sexy nude body, this movie appears to be just an excuse or a vehicle for Wayans to show off his comedic skills or his over-the-top acting chops.
Wayans stars as Alan Daniels, a black man with a good job in an office who's married and whose wife is pregnant, about to give birth. It's revealed that Alan grew up in foster care and doesn't know his family history. With the help of his wife's father, a federal judge, he's able to find his birth mother's address. He sets out to find his birth mother and if he has any siblings. He discovers through a news article that his birth mother had sextuplets. Most of whom, she gave away. Alan then sets out to find all of his siblings, learn more about who they are and hopefully create a family that he never had.
Each sibling that he meets is Wayans playing another over-the-top and either over or under-weight character. Rather, it's him playing another caricature, a caricature that spoofs or mocks an African-American stereotype. First is his shy, child-like and obese brother, Russell. Next is his aggressive sassy, stripper sister, Dawn. Then is his pimp-like thief of a brother, Ethan. After is his malnourished and infirm brother, Baby Pete. Finally is his light-skin and ginger-haired spy of a brother, Jaspar. It allows Wayans to play all these crazy personas.
This isn't new terrain for Wayans. He's played over-the-top and crazy personas in numerous films from
Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996) to
White Chicks (2004), all of the aforementioned characters in this film are versions or slight variations of characters Wayans has played before. This film simply concentrates and amplifies them. It gives us all of those characters all at once.
If one has seen Wayans' recent NBC series
Marlon (2017), one knows that Wayans has a great, manic energy, a boldness, fearlessness and timing that rivals or comes close to the style and power of Robin Williams. Marlon Wayans could almost be a black version of Robin Williams, if he focused his talents in better projects. This project though leans more toward masturbatory rather than toward masterpiece.
Rated TV-14.
Running Time: 1 hr. and 39 mins.
Available on Netflix.
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