Undercover Brother (2002)

When "The Man" tries to derail a black candidate's presidential campaign, Undercover Brother and his fellow secret agents come to the rescue.

Director:

Malcolm D. Lee

Writers:

John Ridley (internet series), John Ridley (story)

Stars:

Eddie Griffin, Denise Richards, Aunjanue Ellis

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Griffin	...	Undercover Brother / Anton Jackson
Chris Kattan	...	Mr. Feather
Denise Richards	...	White She Devil
Aunjanue Ellis	...	Sistah Girl
Dave Chappelle	...	Conspiracy Brother
Chi McBride	...	The Chief
Neil Patrick Harris	...	Lance
Gary Anthony Williams	...	Smart Brother
Billy Dee Williams	...	Gen. Warren Boutwell
Jack Noseworthy	...	Mr. Elias
Robert Trumbull	...	The Man
J.D. Hall	...	Narrator (voice)
William S. Taylor	...	Roscoe the Barber (as William Taylor)
Shauna MacDonald	...	Wendy Marshall - TV Anchor
Ron Pardo	...	Chuck

Storyline

A white faceless corporate despot known only as "The Man", has the power to unleash a terrifying top-secret weapon: an irresistibly packaged psycho-hallucinogenic drug that will reduce the entire population to mindless zombies. but black folks have soul. But with enough funky sense of style, a smooth way with the ladies and an absolute hunger for justice, with his Bruce Lee moves, Cadillac attitude and an arsenal of outrageous disguises and gadgets, Undercover Brother is recruited by the group of Good Guys, know as the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. an all-black justice league to foil the Man's plan to derail a Colin Powell-like presidential candidate, and Undercover Brother's undercover exploits keep the slim plot moving. But while he and his sassy cat-fighting partner known as Sistah Girl tries to find out what's going on, the leader's ruthless right arm, Mr. Feather, discovers the conspiracy's sexy secret weapon, Penelope Snow.

---

Plot Keywords:

undercover | secret agent | african american | disguise | cadillac | 

---

Taglines:

He's All Action

---

Genres:

Action | Comedy

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for language, sexual humor, drug content and campy violence

Details

Official Sites:

Universal Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

31 May 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Brat na tajnom zadatku

Filming Locations:

Showline Studios, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$12,037,685, 2 June 2002, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$38,230,435, 14 July 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures,Imagine Entertainment,Urban Media

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

When White She Devil (Denise Richards) first meets Smart Brother (Eddie Griffin) she says that he is cute "in a Theo Huxtable kind of way". Theo Huxtable was played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner who also starred in Malcolm & Eddie (1996) alongside Eddie Griffin. (She actually says this also to Smart Brother)

---

Goofs

She-devil's henchmen's motorcycles are both stock 2002 Honda CBR600's but when one of the bikes crash to the wall and explodes it is a circa 1997 Kawasaki ZX-6R with clearly visible stunt equipment (special tires, handlebar) fitted and the rear fairing painted to look like a Honda CBR.

---

Quotes

Undercover Brother: Are you telling me there really is a Man'?
Conspiracy Brother: What do you think? Things don't just happen by accident! Sometimes people - mostly *white* people - make things happen!
Undercover Brother: So the conspiracies we've believed for all these years are true? The NBA really did institute the three point shot to give white boys a chance?
Smart Brother: Absolutely!
Undercover Brother: Then the entertainment industry really *is* out to get Spike Lee?
Conspiracy Brother: Come on man! Even Cher's won an Oscar! Cher!
Undercover Brother: Then O.J. really didn't do it?
[Everyone looks away and mumbles]
The Chief: We......

---

Crazy Credits

Early in the credits, Undercover Brother gets his convertible washed at the car wash with the top down.

---

Alternate Versions

For the UK DVD release Universal chose to cut 14 sec. from the outtakes (two uses of very strong language) to keep the "12" rating. An uncut "15" was available.

---

Connections

References The Last Dragon (1985)

---

Soundtracks

Say It Loud, I'm Black And I'm Proud
Written by James Brown and Alfred James Ellis
Performed by James Brown
Courtesy of Universal Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Underrated Comedy

An Afro-American organization, the B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D., is in permanent fight against a white organization, The Man, defending the values of the black people in North America. When the Afro-American candidate Gen. Warren Boutwell (Billy Dee Williams) has a weird behavior in his presidential campaign, the Undercover Brother (Eddie Griffin) is hired to work undercover in the white organization and find what happened with the potential candidate.

I do not recall the last time I laughed so much with a comedy. "Undercover Brother" is one of the most hilarious and silly comedies I have ever seen, and very underrated in IMDb. The story is a big joke with the North American racism, both white and black, with very funny situations "à la Austin Powers". I believe this is the major point of the plot, keeping a neutral position and ridiculing and satirizing racism of Caucasians and Blacks. Dave Chappelle is the funniest, but Chris Kattan, Eddie Griffin, Aunjanue Ellis, Denise Richards and the rest of the cast are also amazingly funny. I did not understand the joke with mayonnaise, but I believe that usually Afro-American people do not like this dressing, or at least there is a clichés about in USA. There are many other jokes related to the North American culture that are impossible to be understood by an overseas viewer, but anyway I loved this movie. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Undercover Brother – Com a Cor e a Coragem" ("Undercover Brother – With the Color and Courage")