I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

I'm Gonna Git You Sucka
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Keenen Ivory Wayans
Written by	Keenen Ivory Wayans
Produced by	Eric L. Gold Raymond Katz
Starring	Keenen Ivory Wayans Bernie Casey Antonio Fargas Isaac Hayes Jim Brown Ja'net Dubois
Cinematography	Tom Richmond
Edited by	Michael R. Miller
Music by	David Michael Frank
Production companies	United Artists Front Films Ivory Way Productions Raymond Katz Productions
Distributed by	MGM/UA Communications Co.
Release dates	December 14, 1988(1988-12-14)(limited) January 11, 1989(1989-01-11)(wide)
Running time	89 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$3 million
Box office	$13 million

I'm Gonna Git You Suckais a 1988 Americanblaxploitationparody filmwritten, directed by and starringKeenen Ivory Wayansin hisdirectorial debut.Featured in the film are several noteworthyAfrican-Americanactors who were part of the genre of blaxploitation:Jim Brown,Bernie Casey,Antonio FargasandIsaac Hayes.It co-starsJohn Vernon,Kadeem Hardison,Ja'net Dubois,John Witherspoon,Damon Wayans,Clarence Williams IIIandChris Rock,and acts as the film debuts of comedianRobin Harrisand brothersShawnandMarlon Wayans.

The film entered alimited theatrical releaseon December 14, 1988, before expanding to awide releaseon January 11, 1989. It was commercially successful, grossing $13 million, and received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

When soldier Jack Spade learns that his brother Junebug overdosed on gold chains and died, he returns to Any Ghetto, U.S.A. As he surveys the old neighborhood, Jack notices the impact that gold chains have had on his neighborhood and feels that not only should his brother's death be made right, but the entire neighborhood as well. He vows to destroy Mr. Big, the neighborhood chain lord responsible for the epidemic that claimed Junebug's life.

Jack asks for the aid of his childhood idol and local hero John Slade in planning the demise of Mr. Big's empire. Together, they form a team including Kung Fu Joe, Flyguy, Slammer, and Hammer. With the help of his crew, Jack sets out to take down Mr. Big and the gold trade in the streets.

Cast

• Keenen Ivory Wayansas Jack Spade
• Bernie Caseyas John Slade
• Ja'net Duboisas Belle Brown-Spade
• Isaac Hayesas "Hammer"
• Jim Brownas "Slammer"
• Antonio Fargasas Flyguy
• Steve Jamesas Joe "Kung Fu Joe"
• John Vernonas "Mr. Big"
• Dawnn Lewisas Cheryl Spade
• Kadeem Hardisonas Willie
• Damon Wayansas Leonard
• Kim WayansasNightclub Singer
• Nadia Wayansas Bar Patron
• Chris Rockas Rib Joint Customer
• Anne-Marie Johnsonas "Cherry"
• Eve Plumbas Kalinga's Wife
• Tony Coxas Wayne Evans
• Hawthorne Jamesas Sam "One-Eyed Sam"
• Clarence Williams IIIas Kalinga
• David Alan Grieras Newsman
• Robin Harrisas The Bartender
• Marlon WayansandShawn Wayansas Pedestrians
• Gary Owensas Pimp of The Year Pageant Announcer
• Michael Conn as Officer
• Ariana Richardsas Little Girl
• John Witherspoonas Reverend
• Lawrence Parkeras himself
• Derrick Jonesas himself
• Robert Townsend(uncredited)
• Peggy Lipton(uncredited)
• Clu Gulageras Lieutenant Baker

Background

The film was written and directed by first-time director Keenan Ivory Wayans. The inspiration behind the film came from Wayans, who is a fan of blaxploitation films, and his childhood spent growing up watching these films as they made up the majority of black films made during the 1970s. Sitting with friends and making fun of the genre struck the idea for the film in Wayans.Before makingI’m Gonna Git You Sucka,Wayans spent five years earning credentials for films such asHollywood ShuffleandEddie Murphy Raw.Eddie Murphysuggested the concept of a blaxploitation parody and its title.Once Wayans earned enough credibility to have his film picked up by a studio and a budget of $3 million, Wayans filmed his debut feature film in 32 days. It grossed a total of $3 million in the box office in the first month of the film's release.

Critical reception

I'm Gonna Git You Suckahas an approval rating of 62% onRotten Tomatoesfrom 29 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads "I'm Gonna Git You Suckaputs a satirical spin on '70s nostalgia with a comedy whose somewhat scattershot laughs are often offset by pure energetic silliness. "

I’m Gonna Git You Suckareceived critical receptions that were wide-ranging and numerous in viewpoint. The film opened to rave responses from the black community, who felt the film captured the era of blaxploitation films from the 1970s.Black audience members were thrilled to attend the screening of a movie filled with black actors about a black film genre.Critics also noted Wayans’ ability to satirically capture the trope of the "Buck"in blaxploitation film: the white man's notion of the all-powerful brutal black man.

In her analysis of the film, Harriet Margolis wrote that this is not because "[Jack] consciously chooses to reject his mother’s values as that he wants to establish his own based on the macho heroic values he learned during the heyday of blaxploitation films."

HistorianRobert Sklarwrote, "The [blaxploitation film] movement quickly developed into a phenomenon not of an African-American audience but of a specific subgroup, a segment of a segment: young urban males,” so often the perspective and narratives of young black women were left out or included as the background in many of these films during the 1970s.

Critics of the film argued that the film not only failed at producing humor in its use of black stereotypes, but generally was not funny.Chicago Sun-Timesfilm criticRoger EbertwroteI’m Gonna Git You Suckais "a comedy that feeds off the blaxploitation movie, and although, like all good satires, it is cheerfully willing to be offensive, it is almost completely incapable of being funny."There was also a concern about the perception of the film from white moviegoing audiences. The film's villain, Mr. Big, is not only a white man, but a white man responsible for the deterioration of an inner city black community.

Television pilot

On December 15, 1990, the hour-long television pilot titledHammer, Slammer, & Sladewas shown on ABC-TV.It was directed byMichael Schultz.

Isaac Hayes(Hammer),Jim Brown(Slammer), andBernie Casey(Slade) continued in their parts from the movieI'm Gonna Git You Sucka.Also returning wereJa'net DuboisandSteve James.AlthoughKeenen Ivory Wayanswrote the pilot, and he served as the executive producer, he did not appear in this pilot. Instead, the character of Jack Spade was portrayed byEriq La Salle.Fast-talking Lennie, played byDamon Wayansin the film, was played by Bentley Kyle Evans, while his sidekick Willie, played byKadeem Hardisonin the film, was played by a then-unknownMartin Lawrence.

Hammer, Slammer, & Sladewas not sold to any TV network, but it was shown several times in syndication.

Home media

In 2001,I'm Gonna Git You Suckawas released on DVDand in 2010, it was digitized in High Definition (1080i) and released on MGM HD. In 2016,Kino Lorberreleased the film on Blu-ray.

See also

• Hollywood Shuffle(1987)
• Black Dynamite(2009)

External links

• I'm Gonna Git You SuckaatIMDb
• I'm Gonna Git You Suckaat theTCM Movie Database
• I'm Gonna Git You SuckaatAllMovie
• I'm Gonna Git You SuckaatRotten Tomatoes