Phat Beach

Phat Beach
Directed by	Doug Ellin
Written by	Ben Morris Brian E. O'Neal Cleveland O'Neal III Doug Ellin
Produced by	Cleveland O'Neal III Eric Manes Michael Schultz
Starring	Jermaine Hopkins Coolio Brian Hooks
Cinematography	Dave Perkal James A. Lebovitz Jürgen Baum
Edited by	Tucker Stilley Jeremy Kasten Richard Nord
Music by	Joseph Williams
Distributed by	Live Entertainment Orion Pictures Corporation
Release date	August 2, 1996(1996-08-02)
Running time	88 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$100,000
Box office	$1.3 million

Phat Beachis a 1996 Americancomedy filmdirected byDoug Ellin,which starsJermaine 'Huggy' Hopkins,Coolio,Brian Hooksand Gregg Vance. The movie has been considered to be "one of the greatest (and perhaps only)hip-hopbeach moviesof all time. "

Plot

Benny King, an overweight, self-conscious teen inBakersfield,California, faces the prospect of a dismal summer when his father Carl pushes him to get a job at a hamburger joint. Carl wants Benny to develop a work ethic instead of sitting around the house all summer, writing and dreaming. Benny begrudgingly takes on the job, but continues to daydream about Candace, the girl of his dreams, and gets sidetracked by his hormonal friend Durrel Jackson.

Durrel proposes an attractive alternative to Benny—heading off to the Southern California beaches. While Benny's family is on vacation, he borrows his father's Mercedes convertible and heads toMalibuwith Durrel. Though Benny and Durrel intend to sell cheap sunglasses to beach-goers so Benny can afford apoetryclass, Durrel gets distracted with all the attractive women around. Durrel proceeds to enjoy hook-ups with an assortment of women, while Benny is convinced he won't meet anyone because of his size. The duo get into a variety of misadventures, including running intoCoolioat a first-class hotel and signing up for a volleyball tournament when they realize they are out of money.

Cast

• Jermaine 'Huggy' Hopkinsas Benny King
• Brian Hooksas Durrel Jackson
• Gregg Vance as Mikey Z
• Claudia Kaleem as Candace Williams
• Coolioas himself
• Eric Fleeks as Carl N. King
• Alma Collins as Janet King
• Candice Merideth as Tasha King
• Jennifer Lucienne as Denise Marie
• Sabrina De Pina as Tanya Watkins
• Tommy "Tiny" Listeras Tiny

Production

The film was the directorial debut ofDoug Ellin,who was offered the chance to direct by producer Cleveland O'Neal based on a short film he made titledThe Waiter.O'Neal envisionedPhat Beachto be the first hip-hopbeach movie.

Due to the film being non-union,much of the cast, with the exception ofJermaine Hopkins,consisted of unknown actors appearing in their first feature film.Before Hopkins was cast in the role of Benny,Anthony Andersonhad read for the part.

Soundtrack

Phat Beach (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Soundtrack albumtoPhat Beachby various artists
Released	August 7, 1996(1996-08-07)
Recorded	1995–1996
Genre	Hip hop R&B
Length	57:03
Label	TVT Soundtrax
Producer	Biz Markie Chubb Rock Clint "Payback" Sands Danny D Def Jef E-40 Ephriam Galloway Howie How Ivan Johnson Jere McAllister Larry "Rock" Campbell M. Doc Michael Angelo Saulsberry Sleepy Nevilles Smoke One Productions Tigidy Tone Vic C

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic

The soundtrack album for the film was released on August 7, 1996, throughTVT Soundtraxand consisted primarily of hip hop and R&B music. The album reached number 40 on theTop R&B Albumschart.

Track listing

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Fatal" (performed byE-40)	E-40	4:03
2.	"U Gotta Go" (performed by Kinsui and The Bucwee Boiz)	Danny D	3:25
3.	"Up to No Good" (performed by8Ball & MJG)	Smoke One Productions	4:18
4.	"She's Hollywood" (performed by Rod King and Solo-Loc)	Michael Angelo Saulsberry	4:06
5.	"Gotta Have Game" (performed byThe Click)	Clint "Payback" Sands	3:41
6.	"I'm Hungry" (performed byBiz Markie)	Biz Markie	3:35
7.	"Like Playas" (performed by Young Kyoz andSpice 1)	Tigidy Tone	5:17
8.	"80 Ways" (performed byDef Jef)	Def Jef	5:05
9.	"You Are My Kind of Guy" (performed by Delasaneice)	Ephriam Galloway Ivan Johnson	3:03
10.	"Get Tis Money Honey" (performed by Wildliffe Society)	Howie How Sleepy Nevilles Darryl Pete(co.) Derrick Martin(co.)	3:43
11.	"I Want the Bomb" (performed by LaTanya)	Jere M.C. M. Doc	4:04
12.	"I Just Wanna (Be With You)" (performed by L.A. Ganz)	Larry "Rock" Campbell	3:58
13.	"I Dream of You" (performed byChubb Rock)	Chubb Rock	4:25
14.	"Jock'n Me" (performed byMoKenStef)	Vic C.	4:20
Total length:			57:03

Release

Phat Beachreceived a wide theatrical release on August 2, 1996.It opened in the 22nd spot, grossing $658,614 on 408 screens.It ultimately grossed $1,383,553 domestically,making the low-budget film a financial success.

Reception

At the time of release,Phat Beachreceived negative responses from critics who described the film as little more than a puerilesex comedy.Roger Hurlburt of theOrlando Sentinellamented that "women are treated as brainless, money-grubbing half-wits who swoon over dirty comments, vulgar flattery and a fancy car", and added "the plot is just an excuse for audiences to gape at a group of outrageously bosomy women removing bikini tops. InPhat Beach,smarmy, sexist jokes combine with silicone to produce a laughless, truly tasteless tale. Scarcely a poignant look at the loneliness of overweight, poetry-loving, nice-boy Benny King (Jermaine "Huggy" Hopkins), this simply is a bounce-and-jiggle picture.Phatis intended to titillate through gratuitous, overripe nudity and foul-mouthed high jinks. Contrary to the ads, none of it is phresh or phunky. Phlaccid is more like it. "

In contrast, Amy Wu of theChicago Tribunegave a positive review and wrote, "Phat Beachis a fun movie, and that's all it's meant to be. "She added, "Simplicity is what makesPhat Beachso enjoyable ", but" behind the simplicity is something revolutionary...The cast is multiethnic, the main characters are not white and the music comes from rap artist Coolio instead of theBeach Boys".TheLos Angeles Times'Kevin Thomasfelt the film is familiar at points, but praised the comedic chemistry between Hopkins and Hooks, in addition to the soundtrack.

Stephen Gaydos ofVarietygave a more mixed review, writing, "Cooked up for young fans of theHouse Partycomedies and theWayans brothers' raucous outings,Phat's bite on the genre is too bland and its gags too warmed-over to satisfy the hunger of its targeted auds. "Gaydos appreciated that some of Durrel's cruder attitudes about women "are counterbalanced by Benny’s constant criticism and belief in treating women with respect."Though he felt Coolio's appearance was too brief, he concluded, "First-time helmer Doug Ellin deserves credit for steering the sub-par script without resorting toMTV-style visual gimmicks, which only would have made the situation more derivative than it already is. His greatest strength is in the handling of the perfs of Hopkins, Hooks and Vance. Hopkins’ sweet vulnerability is wasted here and would be better placed in a pic with more substance, while Hooks and Vance are a winning pair of comedic newcomers. "

Over the years, the film went on to develop acult following,withChris RockandKendrick Lamarbeing among its fans.

External links

• Phat BeachatIMDb
• Phat BeachatRotten Tomatoes
• Phat BeachatAllMovie