Black Sheep (1996)

A gubernatorial candidate hires a wormy special assistant whose only job is to make sure the candidate's well-meaning but incompetent brother doesn't ruin the election.

Director:

Penelope Spheeris

Writer:

Fred Wolf

Stars:

Chris Farley, David Spade, Tim Matheson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Farley	...	Mike Donnelly
David Spade	...	Steve Dodds
Tim Matheson	...	Al Donnelly
Christine Ebersole	...	Governor Tracy
Gary Busey	...	Drake Sabitch
Grant Heslov	...	Robbie Mieghem
Timothy Carhart	...	Roger Kovary
Bruce McGill	...	Neuschwander
Michael Patrick Carter	...	Scott Colleary
Boyd Banks	...	Clyde Spinoza
David St. James	...	Motorcycle Cop
Skip O'Brien	...	State Trooper
Branden Morgan	...	Fan (as Branden R. Morgan)
'Gypsy' Spheeris	...	Pocket Pool Lady
John Ashker	...	Jim Blaine

Storyline

Comedy about the prospective Washington State Governor Al Donnelly whose only stumbling block on the road to power is his embarrassing younger brother Mike. To keep him out of mischief, Al forces one of his aides, Steve Dodds to keep an eye on him during the election. However, this is easier said than done...

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Plot Keywords:

clumsiness | embarrassment | political campaign | slapstick comedy | politics | 

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Taglines:

There's one in every family.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for crude language and humor, drug-related material and sexual innuendo

Did You Know?

Trivia

Penelope Spheeris had notable disagreements with writer Fred Wolf and David Spade throughout the entire production of the film. Spheeris fired Wolf from the film three times (he was hired back twice by Chris Farley and once by Lorne Michaels), then refused to speak to him and finally banned him from the set. Her relationship with Spade was equally as tumultuous. Speaking to Farley's official biographer, she said, "I don't think I've ever even smiled at anything David Spade's ever done... I still have a recording of a message David left on my answering machine. He said, 'You've spent this whole movie trying to cut my comedy balls off.'"

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Goofs

When Sabitch pins Steve to the tree, his arm is suddenly not holding Steve in one shot, then is back in the next and he starts to lower it.

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Quotes

Mike: [on stage making a fool of himself] Voting kicks ass right! Cause, uh, if voting kicks ass, you got some kick ass shit!

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Connections

Featured in Showbiz Today: Episode dated 5 February 1996 (1996)

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Soundtracks

Lady Marmalade
by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan
Performed by LaBelle
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Minor Criticisms

Not enough character development on Spade's character; would have wanted to know more about why he's doing it. Not much info on his relationship with Al Donnelly; e.g.: how good was he at his job, and why Donnelly was so quick to let him have the job with Mike. Lack of time, I guess, but I would have wanted to know more.

Farley was definitely the star of the movie, which meant I had to rewind to catch the funnier moments with Spade, if the two were in the same shot. Couldn't help but think Farley wasn't all that fat in this movie, for all the fat jokes.

Error alert: almost immediately after Mike falls on Steve in the bunk bed scene, the bed is magically in one piece.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 February 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Black Sheep

Filming Locations:

S. Myrtle Ave. & W. Lime Ave., Monrovia, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$10,593,609, 4 February 1996

Gross USA:

$32,417,995

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$32,417,995

Company Credits

Production Co:

Broadway Pictures, Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1