Who's the Man? (1993)

The two worst barbers in Harlem become cops while a real estate developer forces people out of Harlem.

Director:

Ted Demme

Writers:

Doctor Dré (story), Ed Lover (story)

Stars:

Ed Lover, Doctor Dré, Badja Djola

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ed Lover	...	Ed Lover
Doctor Dré	...	Doctor Dré
Badja Djola	...	Lionel Douglas
Cheryl 'Salt' James	...	Teesha Braxton
Jim Moody	...	Nick Crawford
Ice-T	...	Nighttrain / Chauncey
Andre B. Blake	...	Lamar
Rozwill Young	...	Sgt. Bo Griles
Colin Quinn	...	Frankie Flynn
Todd 1	...	Shorty (as Todd-1)
Bowlegged Lou	...	Forty
Bernie Mac	...	G-George
Bill Bellamy	...	K.K.
T-Money	...	Bubba
Denis Leary	...	Sgt. Cooper

Storyline

Ed Lover and Doctor Dre are two inept barbers. Deciding that maybe they ought to find another line of work, they join the police. A big mistake, as far as their duty sergeant, Sgt Cooper is concerned, who proceeds to harass them at every turn. Despite this, they discover a major crime, and proceed to solve them in their own unusual fashion.

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Plot Keywords:

psychotronic film | barber | manhattan new york city | harlem manhattan new york city | black american | 

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Taglines:

The first hip-hop whodunnit!

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of six films to feature Denis Leary in 1993 which also include The Sandlot, National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1, Demolition Man, Judgment Night, No Cure For Cancer (his HBO Comedy Special) and this film.

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Goofs

NYPD Sgts wear gold chin straps on their hats. Sgt. Cooper is wearing a black strap that only a detective in uniform would wear.

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Quotes

Sgt. Cooper: You fucked me! You fucked me! You might as well kiss me 'cause you're fucking me!

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Connections

References The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)

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Soundtracks

Pimp or Die
Performed by Father MC
Produced by T West & Kool Chris for DawgHouse Entertainment
Written by Father MC, T West & Kool Chris, Tim Dawg (as Buttnaked Tim Dawg), Mr. Cheeks (as Cocheek) and J-Z.
Used by permission of EMI April Music Inc., Across 110th St. Publishing, Father MC Music,
New Line Tunes, Terrance Kelly, Christopher Bryan, Timothy Patterson.

User Reviews

Good production, good laughs

Cards on the table: I'm an old white guy. I don't know Dre or Lover.

I like some slapstick, and some I don't. For your reference, I never much cared for Abbott & Costello or the 3 Stooges, but I love Laurel & Hardy and the Marx Brothers. Dre & Lover got lots of personality and good humor. Love watching their comedy routine -- the best part of the movie.

Ice-T has a small part, must be one of his first on the screen. Would like to see him in bigger parts; he's on TV a lot lately and he's an interesting actor.

The closing credits are playing to some hip-hop. The lyrics use the "N" word, but it occurs to me that I don't remember hearing it in the movie's dialog. It's the end of 2006 and it's finally going out of style, but avoiding it 13 years ago was a touch of class.

I've got Cinemax playing on the TV. The next movie is coming on, which they rate "MV" for Mild Violence. If I were to rate "Who's the Man," I wouldn't give it any violence rating. A gun was waived around menacingly, once. Otherwise, they're too busy having fun. Bring the kids. (Apparently, the professional movie-raters disagree. Maybe society has changed a lot in 13 years. Either that, or professional movie-raters are fuddy duddies.)

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Who's the Man?

Filming Locations:

Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,533,392, 25 April 1993

Gross USA:

$11,299,730

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$11,299,730

Company Credits

Production Co:

De Passe Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Thomas Entertainment

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1