Black Dynamite
Metascore
65 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
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  1. The Hollywood Reporter
    Reviewed by: James Greenberg
    60
    Even if it's a one-joke movie that runs out of steam, director Scott Sanders manages to keep the gag going for 90 minutes.
  2. Chicago Sun-Times
    Reviewed by: Roger Ebert
    75
    It's one of those loving modern retreads of older genre movies.
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Wesley Morris
    63
    Before an hour has passed tedium overtakes Black Dynamite - one corny martial-arts sequence turns out to be plenty - and all the good jokes dry up.
  4. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Michael Phillips
    50
    While White plays it supercool, Tommy Davidson and Arsenio Hall (as Cream Corn and Tasty Freeze, respectively) swing for the fences, without much in the way of a bat.
  5. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: Elizabeth Weitzman
    60
    Just like the movies it parodies, this one feels over long before it's actually done.
  6. Time Out New York
    Reviewed by: Keith Uhlich
    60
    Less deadpan spoof than loving act of possession, Black Dynamite near-fully channels the look and feel of its blaxploitation ancestors, warts and all.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Owen Gleiberman
    100
    Along the way, Black Dynamite blends satire, nostalgia, and cinema deconstruction into a one-of-a-kind comedy high.
  8. Los Angeles Times
    Reviewed by: Robert Abele
    90
    An enjoyable celebratory ode to a fiercely entertaining counterculture-inspired genre.
  9. Variety
    Reviewed by: Rob Nelson
    80
    This film will delight both discriminating fans of the blaxploitation tradition and ordinary lovers of goofy, in-ya-face thrills.
  10. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: J.R. Jones
    60
    The movie gets old fast--mostly because it’s bringing up the rear after "Undercover Brother" (2002) And "I’m Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988). But the kung-fu climax at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (“the Honky House”) is nearly worth the wait, and Adrian Younge’s score, with its moody horns, is a perfect snapshot of early 70s soul.
  11. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Melissa Anderson
    50
    No matter how many trips to Kung Fu Island our hero makes, nothing in Black Dynamite captures the exhilarating absurdity of Pam Grier hiding razors in her Afro in "Coffy"--or the loony genre experimentation in "Pootie Tang."
  12. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: A.O. Scott
    40
    As a five-minute clip on YouTube, this spoof might be a small masterpiece. As a feature film, it’s both too much and not nearly enough.
  13. The A.V. Club
    Reviewed by: Nathan Rabin
    83
    Sometimes feels like an all-time classic short film stretched to feature length, but it’s blissfully short, and it peaks at the end with a groovy cartoon during the closing credits.
  14. Christian Science Monitor
    Reviewed by: Peter Rainer
    83
    You could argue, I suppose, that this film, a Sundance hit, is essentially a funny sketch padded out to feature length. And what of it, my man?

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. beehivehornetnest
    10
    This movie is a diamond in the rough. what's up with the limited release in my city. That's ok cause the DVD is mine upon release. Cult Classic material.… Full Review »
  2. AaronS
    9
    Hilarious. That's the best word to describe this film. Yes, it's one joke that plays out for an entire 90 minutes, but who cares? Any joke that can be told for 90 minutes and keep audiences entertained is one hell of a thing. The film hits the nail on the head every single time...even making fun of the poor production values from the blacksploitation era, with intentional "bad" editing, and ridiculous cheesy special FX. Even the acting is intentionally "bad." I can honestly say that this is the best comedy that has come out so far this year (and that includes The Hangover).… Full Review »
  3. ILHM
    8
    He's super bad. He's outta sight. He's... BLACK DYNAMITE! Michael Jai White stars in this hilarious parody of classic Soul Cinema. Black Dynamite hits the streets to find the man responsible for his brother's murder, but he uncovers a much more sinister plot that involves crooked cops, drug-dealing pimps, and a trail of evidence that leads all the way back to the White House! The creative team behind BLACK DYNAMITE has struck comic gold with their new cult-sensation. With the help of talented wardrobe and location scouts, Scott Sanders has truly allowed this film to walk out of the 70's. Every suit, every store, and every line of dialog feels authentic to the era of Blaxploitation films, while the script brilliantly highlights all of the unintentional humor and absurdity found therein. Visible boom mics and out-of-place edits are only a few of the entertaining visual references, but the clever dialog and straight-faced performances are what make this a classic. Sanders even uses the Super 16 color reversal process to give BLACK DYNAMITE a vintage look that succeeds even over major throwback pictures like Quentin Tarantino's GRINDHOUSE double-bill. While featuring a number of hysterical cameos by top comedians like Arsenio Hall, Tommy Davidson, and screenwriter Bryon Minns, no one can top Michael Jai White as Black Dynamite. He is a bad ass motha' and the ultimate ladies' man, rightfully earning his place beside cult heroes like Shaft and Dolemite. On top of that, White is insanely funny, and plays into the ironic nature of the script perfectly. Although BLACK DYNAMITE does require a basic underlying knowledge of the Blaxploitation genre in order to fully appreciate the humor, it is still a twisted treat for any fan to pick up and enjoy!

    -Carl Manes
    I Like Horror Movies    … Full Review »
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