(rated PG13, 83mins.)
Who can the government call on to help when a sinister underground movement threatens to overthrow them? No, not Austin Powers but his “brother” so to speak, with less attitude (sort of) and less ego (but more afro)! Eddie Griffin stars as Brother, a mack-daddy style spy who trades in his fro, his mojo and his eight-track stereo to go undercover. Produced by Brian (Liar, Liar, Nutty Professor) Grazer and screenwritten by Michael McCullers (coincidentally also an Austin Powers writer) Griffin give soul energy to his performance joined by very white agents Neil Parick Harris, Chris Kattan and Dave Chappelle, who draft him into their B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. Don’t expect the usual white-bread-boy-meets-black-boy wise crackin’ jokes. This film has the 70s heightened coolness of “Shaft” with a funny bone and seems to pull it off.
