Blankman

Damon Wayans has a rather odd role here but he manages to amuse fairly enough in this 1994 Columbia Pictures release. Wayans portrays an average guy with big ideas but he never seems to get any recognition for them so he decides to make an attempt at being a media celebrity by going around town in his underwear and fighting crime under the alter ego, Blankman. It's highly bizarre but also fairly funny. The hilarious David Alan Grier is also on hand costarring as Blankman's sidekick.

Being a tremendous superhero nerd, I loved everything about Blankman! The hokey jokes, costumes and plot. Damon Wayans must have watched all the old 60's Batman shows, as did I, and loved all the garishness of it, just as I did. Anytime I watch a movie and think..."I would make this movie EXACTLY the same way", means that it's one that I will always watch on TV, and even buy on DVD. I loved the "Blank Station", the references to David Alan Grier's superhero character as "The Other Guy" still make me laugh out loud. Yeah it has toilet humor, yeah it's a goofy parody of a goofy medium, but that just makes me love it even more. And even, God help us, Robin Givens is good enough in her role to make the whole ride an enjoyable one.

I remember seeing this on cable way back when and i loved it, rewatching it now 20+ yrs later it STILL holds its charm for me! It's goofy, funny, adorable and yet it's message is still relevant-even a little guy can make a difference...yet doesn't take itself too serious. It's nice to know my fondness for this one wasn't misplaced as so often can happen with such a long time span. This was the first time I really got introduced to Damon- became an instant fan.

I found the character a bit annoying. The voice and the over the top awkwardness mostly.

On the bright side, the story was cute. Basically, a super hero parody, but on the light side. An event in the awkward and geeky Darrel's (sp?) life made him want to make a difference in the world. A lab accident led to a formula which made him somewhat indestructible.

Where the movie shined, was in some pretty good comic moments. The rorshach test was funny. There was a scene I am pretty sure was stolen from Live and Let Die, where the voodoo guy comes out of the ground. Just to name some.

There are better superhero movies. Some of the humor falls flat, or is cliché. The movie lacks focus at times, as another reviewer pointed out.

But if you want a mindless tribute to Batman (the campy TV version,) and like movie on the light hearted side, you might like this one. Very little mean humor, swearing, adult and potty humor, which in itself, is refreshing (I like that stuff from time to time, but I also like it when a movie makes do without it for a change of pace.)

Damon Wayans cuts it up as a (Grand)Mama's Boy with dreams of being a crimefighting superhero. David Alan Grier dreams of busting out his Mack Daddy on the star reporter (Givens) at the TV station where he works as a cameraman. Sprinkle liberally with "The Return of Duckman" -- Jason Alexander in the guise of Grier's producer, and as caustic as the quack ever was -- and throw in lots of junk... but it's *great* junk. With his wringer-equipped, flashlight-eyed, wrist-remote-controlled 1950's era automatic washing machine robo-buddy J5, Blankman (Wayans) creates an aura of mystique and cobbled together super-gadgets that would make Batman wonder "Where did he get all that junk?" (see also "Spiculum of Life") while making his neighborhood safer for his children. Nevermind that he's still a virgin. A gloriously campy superhero gigglefest that will at some point touch the heart and mind of every kid (grown up and otherwise) who wanted to open a can of whoop-ass in snazzy duds with groovy toys, then retreat back to your secret Super-Do-Gooder Hideout. Plenty of physical comedy to keep you chuckling, tricks and traps ingenious enough to qualify as "Diabolical Disastrous Doom... will our heroes be back next week?". An excellent rental.