They Cloned Tyrone review: Jamie Foxx comedy tackles blaxploitation tropes
John Boyega and Teyonah Parris co-star in a sci-fi caper comedy that works sharp social commentary into its very funny premise
Film Reviews Blaxploitation
At first glance, They Cloned Tyrone is a silly satire of early ’70s blaxploitation flicks like Super Fly or Willie Dynamite that adds what writer-director Juel Taylor and writer Tony Rettenmaier call a “… dash of Scooby Doo.” Fortunately, the filmmakers here have something more in mind, as they create a meticulously constructed world to tell a tale that uses age-old theories, myths, and conspiracies—some proven to be accurate, like the infamous Tuskegee experiments—to explain the woes of the Hood.
When we first meet our principal players—pimp Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), a drug dealer named Fontaine (John Boyega), and a prostitute named Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris) occupying a Black community called the Ville—they are the elements of what must be comedy. Indeed, the characters in this movie would be problematic as a depiction of the Black community if they were presented as earnestly as they would have been back in the day.
As the film opens, we meet Fontaine in his lime-green 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix. All the vehicles in the Ville are vintage 1970 to 1999-ish; indeed, everything and everyone in the Ville seems plucked from a mishmash of elements from the era of Hood movies. Fontaine is the top local street distributor in the Ville. We watch as he dispenses his wares through a network that includes a little kid called JuneBug (Trayce Malachi, stealing all his scenes as he cracks wise while sucking on a juice pack). We meet Slick Charles and his “hoes,” including Yo-Yo, setting up at the local motel where Slick runs his operation. Slick owes Fontaine money, and when he comes to get it, their exchange is a whirlwind of Jamie Foxx pimp-isms worthy of a Katt Williams comedy special. It’s funny, but it’s also a dumb stereotype that has to earn its place in the movie, which it eventually does.
In short order, Fontaine is killed by a rival drug dealer. Or so it seems, until he wakes up and, unbeknownst to him, repeats the previous day, right up to his visit with Slick. Here’s where They Cloned Tyrone, clearly not afraid to mix genres, adds an element of urban sci-fi thriller. Our heroes come together to figure out what’s going on behind the curtain in the Ville, and the film takes on a comedic caper tone while offering more than a straightforward narrative about a mystery solved by Scooby-Doo’s “meddling kids.”
As the movie continues, it adds heavy layers of social commentary to a rather nimble and funny genre mashup, tackling the relationship of Black folks to Black folks, both despite and because of the influence of white folks in our communities. Clones notwithstanding, at this point the movie becomes a drama and the “pimp and hoe” schtick becomes the foundation of a more thoughtful commentary. It acknowledges theories related to environmental dumping, the distribution of crack cocaine, voter suppression, and maternal death rates in the Black community, and yet the film’s writers, director, and producers (mostly Black folks), have a point of view about the causes of these problems that some will find specious. I also don’t care for the film’s conception and condemnation of the “Hood.” As someone of the Hood—we called it the Ghetto when I was coming up—I know that while it includes some drug dealers, the occasional pimp, and assorted hoes, it also had (and still has) myriad people who are none of those things. The great majority of people in and from “the Hood” are doing fine, if not well—even if it is also true that “the man” is looking to get his knee on a brotha’s neck, literally and metaphorically.
Back in the day, films like Super Fly considered themselves dramas, ostensibly about the internecine workings of urban Black America at the time. In fact, they would have been nominated as dramas if the Academy had been woke to the Black Experience through more than the soundtracks of the early 1970s. So as companion pieces to the thematically ballsy comedy drama They Cloned Tyrone, I recommend a couple of throwback films about the Black community from back in the day: Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Let’s Do It Again (1975) are a couple of not-often-spoken-of Black classics distinctly set in the Black community and pointed at Black audiences, featuring African American characters involved in comedy capers. These films are full of Black folks doing Black things in Black ways. They’re still funny, and interestingly, they are not thinking about white folks at all.
So what of They Cloned Tyrone? It’s funny and more thoughtful than it looks while still maintaining itself as a trenchant social satire. Also, for the record, there is no character named Tyrone.
34 Comments
The Man, using Black-centric consumables against Black people? I’m getting strong Anaconda Malt Liquor vibes…
Getting some distinct Undercover Brother vibes as well.
Getting some Pootie Tang and Sorry To Bother You vibes myself.
I can also think of films with Black people.
You’re right, I should have gone with something boring and safe like Groundhog Day instead of giving a shoutout to movies that didn’t get in front of as many eyeballs.
This frame was posted to Polygon:
Speaking of which, this popped up just a week or so ago:
I’m in for anything Michael Jai White comedy, and I’m in for anything that tonally recalls James Garner’s “Support Your Local Sheriff”. In conclusion, I’m in.
recalls James Garner’s “Support Your Local Sheriff”.I knew there was a reason I loved this so much – cannot believe I didn’t make the connection, mostly because there’s just sooo much Bugs Bunny in Jason McCullough. I really don’t know how White’s not a bigger star. Spawn wasn’t that career-killing, was it? His comedy chops are fantastic – that stammered “Didn’t the Bible say turn the other cheek?” “I don’t kn- I mean- probably- yeah!” is classic White. He knows kung fu. He’s hilarious. He’s ripped.
This looks like something I’d like. All the older movies mentioned in this article were very well done. Black Dynamite, and anything with Richard Pryor. I’m hoping that the language is not too bad though. When every sentence has to include ‘mother f**ker’ it gets tiring after a while.
‘They Cloned Tyrone’ is available on Netflix on July 21, 2023.You’re Welcome, AVClub.
Netflix advertised the heck out of this one. To such extent I suspect anyone who has Netflix most likely have known about it for a while. But sparring that? It’s also available to be watched in movie theaters. You’re welcome all non-Netflix subscribers.
Great review. If we could get more than one piece a month from Mr Cogshell I would be very happy. Give him a column as well and I would be even happier.
Agree.
i was definitely gonna skip it because foxx’s netflix output has been awful, but knowing it’s a weird sci-fi flip on blaxsploitation has me charged up. this sounds like it’s closer to a boots riley project. excited!
I literally thought this was the new Boots Riley and was like “Wait, the 13-ft teenager thing is a show, not a movie, so what the hell is this?”
Foxx didn’t direct it, but produced it.
Campy, late period Foxx has been working for me. I even liked the vampire movie. Don’t remember what it was about but do remember being entertained.
It’s kind of incredible that the review lacks a single mention of either “Get Out” or “Us”. The scenario and satirical targets of this movie seem to “borrow” liberally from both.
This sounds like a lot, but I’m here for it. Too bad about the disrespect for the hood. It will be interesting to see how they handle that. It would be incredibly cool if Katt Williams actually had a part.
Yeah there is, the guy on the couch at the end in LA was named Tyrone.
“Also, for the record, there is no character named Tyrone.”Um… yes there is. He’s in the very last scene.
I was going to post the same thing. @Timothy Cogshell , You should definitely watch the whole movie. You know beyond the part where the main leads decide to collectively leave.
Uptown Saturday Night and Let’s Do It Again are fantastic comedies featuring, as noted, a refreshing and unpretentious Black POV. But there’s a big unfortunate reason they’re not talked about much today.
Looking forward to watching this, once the strikes are over and we resub to Netflix.
Actually, there *is* one character named Tyrone. You have to watch the film all the way until literally the last word, though. As for “a comedy with satire”, I took it as more social-commentary/satire with just a tiny little bit of comedy.
I watched this Saturday it was so much fun. Like a retro future blaxploitation flick.
I’m sure your recommendation of Bill Cosby movies will be completely uncontroversial
It was amazing. More than one of the best social satires I’ve seen in a minute, it was also just one of the best sci-fi comedies I’ve ever seen. It was like They Live through an Atlanta filter. The performances were pitch perfect and it has one of the most consistent and effective uses of tone ever. Plus, it looks fantastic. Some of the set design looked extremely expensive and really meticulously designed. I absolutely loved it.
If nothing else, you have to give the movie credit for a pretty exhilarating final 20 minutes and costuming.
Tyrone is the name of the clone of John Boyega’s character we see in LA at the end. The last line of the film is his friend pointing out that the clone they see on television looks like him.
There’s also a wonderful Metal Gear Solid easter egg/reference toward the end of the movie. IYKYK.
I just watched it this weekend.Grade:Afucking awesome. That’s all I got. A little Boondocks fever dream with a nice Cabin in the woods final act!
This looks like it could be both a pretty good movie, and an extremely important one—reinforcing the narrative of people in difficult circumstances, who are being manipulated by deeply entrenched powers, rising up and fighting back against their manipulators. You love to see it.Also, it has to be said, that trailer is tight as HELL. If you’re not pumped after seeing that, check your pulse. (If it’s below 1 beat per minute, consider seeing a doctor.)