The Great White Hype (1996)

When the champ's promoter, Reverend Sultan, decides something new is needed to boost the marketability of the boxing matches, he searches and finds the only man to ever beat the champ. The ... See full summary »

Director:

Reginald Hudlin

Writers:

Tony Hendra (screenplay), Ron Shelton (screenplay)

Stars:

Samuel L. Jackson, Jeff Goldblum, Damon Wayans

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Rev. Fred Sultan
Jeff Goldblum	...	Mitchell Kane
Peter Berg	...	Terry Conklin
Corbin Bernsen	...	Peter Prince
Jon Lovitz	...	Sol
Cheech Marin	...	Julio Escobar
John Rhys-Davies	...	Johnny Windsor
Salli Richardson-Whitfield	...	Bambi (as Salli Richardson)
Jamie Foxx	...	Hassan El Ruk'n
Rocky Carroll	...	Artemus St. John Saint
Albert Hall	...	Roper's Manager
Susan Gibney	...	Vivian
Michael Jace	...	Marvin Shabazz
Duane Davis	...	Palace Guard #1
Lamont Johnson	...	Palace Guard #2

Storyline

When the champ's promoter, Reverend Sultan, decides something new is needed to boost the marketability of the boxing matches, he searches and finds the only man to ever beat the champ. The problem is that he isn't a boxer anymore and he's white. However, once Reverend Sultan convinces him to fight, he goes into heavy training, while the confident champ takes it easy, and falls out of shape.

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Plot Keywords:

oral sex | boxer | boxing | blaxploitation | las vegas nevada | 

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Taglines:

If you can't find the perfect contender....make one.

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Genres:

Comedy | Sport

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Didzioji baltoji apgaule

Filming Locations:

Hoover Dam, Arizona-Nevada Border, USA

Box Office

Gross USA:

$7,874,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Atman Entertainment,Fred Berner Films,Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Samuel L. Jackson and Jamie Foxx appeared in Django Unchained (2012), which this movie's Director Reginald Hudlin co-produced.

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Goofs

Since the beginning of the film Roper is clearly not in the physical shape an experienced professional heavyweight boxer has to be in.

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Quotes

Rev. Fred Sultan: if there isn't a white heavyweight out there for you, I'm going to create you one.
James Roper: [Confused] "white heavyweight?", The words don't even go together, it's like saying "black unity"

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Crazy Credits

While walking back to dressing room after fight, Conklin is followed by two little people from his entourage.

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Connections

Spoofs Roger & Me (1989)

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Soundtracks

Movin' On
Performed by D.J. U-Neek featuring Nyt Owl
Written by Annie Lennox, David A. Stewart (as Dave Stewart), D.J. U-Neek, Nyt Owl
Based on "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)"
Written by Annie Lennox and David A. Stewart (as Dave Stwart)
Produced by D.J. U-Neek for U-Neek Entertainment, Inc.
D.J. U-Neek and Nyt Owl appear courtesy of U-Neek Entertainment, Inc./King Pin Records, Inc.

User Reviews

With this cast it should be ten times better!

A *major* disappointment, especially considering the great cast (Jeff Goldblum aside. I *hate* Goldblum - he's a one-dimensional actor who plays the same bloody character every film he makes and it's not even a good character!!) Samuel Jackson, Damon Wayans, Jamie Foxx, Jon Lovitz (okay, he's also one-dimensional, but *his* character's *funny*!!) and Corbin Bernson...this should be an ace in the hole! But a poor script and worse shooting makes this film hit ground zero pretty fast. It's sloppy, it's long-winded, it shouldn't be shorter, it just needs to be put together more strongly. For example: the Goldblum interview scenes are all horrific. They should be canned or completely redone (preferably with a better actor;).

And it's a comedy yet it's decidedly un-funny. Wayans elicits a laugh or two, and Foxx is amusing...but these two guys should be good for non-stop laughs! And Jackson is almost *too* smooth for this role. He's also much too brilliant an actor...he's poorly suited for a role that's not nearly as competent as he is.

All in all: I actually liked this better the second time I saw it (which isn't saying that much). It's more amusing than I remember it to be. But that's still not enough. It's hardly a keeper - with this kind of cast (oh, by the way - nice cameo by Method Man but someone shoot Brian Setzer PLEASE!!!) it could be SO SO SO much better! 5/10.