Malibu's Most Wanted film review

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MALIBU'S MOST WANTED

You don't get much whiter than a rich Jewish kid from Malibu, but unfortunately for the privileged Brad Gluckman (Jamie Kennedy), money can't buy the one thing he really wants which is to be black. Still, this minor setback doesn't stop him swapping his "slave name" for B-Rad, and setting his sights on being the best rapper in the world. B-Rad is no Eminem and Malibu's Most Wanted is no 8 Mile. Instead it's the latest comedy, following Bringing Down The House and Head Of State, to exploit racial stereotyping for laughs.

There are parrallells to be drawn between Kennedy's B-Rad and Sacha Baron Cohen's alter ego of Ali G. Both began life as characters in TV sketches, and though both make fun of rap's fashion and street slang, Cohen plays his creation as real, while there is no such deception with B-Rad who is never portrayed as anything other than a joke.

Gluckman's a flabby, velour-clad geek who runs with his equally ludicrous Malibu posse. Boasting of ACC (Abused Children of Celebrities) members, he's at pains to point out that "It's hardcore up in the 'Bu". Although infatuated from an early age with rap music and its culture, much to consternation of his parents (Ryan O'Neal and Bo Derek), his perception of hardcore is tainted by the fact he's never actually ventured East of Beverly Hills. When Brad's embarrassing behaviour threatens to derail his father's campaign for Governor, plans are put into place to "scare the black out him".

Campaign manager Tom (Blair Underwood) hires two actors to pose as gangsters. The idea is for them to kidnap Brad, take him to the worst hood and expose him to a sharp dose of reality. In a move presumably designed to make Malibu's Most Wanted appear an equal opportunity offender, the two black actors employed for the task, Sean and P.J. (Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson) are white in everything but colour. Both plumy and camp, neither could find South Central with a map and so, to help them carry out their task, they are forced to utilise their one connection to the streets, P.J.'s cousin Shondra (Regina Hall).