Siskel & Ebert (TV Series)

From Dusk Til Dawn/Eye for an Eye/12 Monkeys/Two If by Sea/Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood (1996)

Roger Ebert: Self - Host

Quotes 

• Roger Ebert - Host : [reviewing "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood"]  I had a lot of conflicting thoughts while I was watching this movie. First of all, I have to say, there are some big laughs, there really are, and the audience seemed to enjoy it. After it was over, though, it left me feeling kinda sad and empty, because the movies it satirizes were trying to say something serious, and this movie undermines and ridicules their message. Another thing: The satire isn't as finely-tuned as it could be, and it doesn't find many worthy targets. A lot of it isn't satire at all, but simply the parading of negative black stereotypes which, if the movie had been made by whites, would be instantly categorized as racist. Trying to draw a line here, trying to get the joke and not be too serious, but boy, it's awfully hard to do, and I can't recommend "Don't Be a Menace".

  Gene Siskel - Host : Oh, I recommend it, I laughed throughout, and, I, y'know, "if it had been made whites", y'know, if somebody had been made by, black movies had been made by, I mean, if you get into that kind of thinking, Roger, it's like you don't want to acknowledge that you had a- you DID acknowledge that you had a good time and laughing at the picture.

  Roger Ebert - Host : I had a good time at part of the picture. It wasn't that well made.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Oh come on, Roger...

  Roger Ebert - Host : It didn't continue to build after a strong opening.

  Gene Siskel - Host : It is as well made as...

  Roger Ebert - Host : And here's another problem.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Wait a second.

  Roger Ebert - Host : It's satirizing good movies.

  Gene Siskel - Host : That's right.

  Roger Ebert - Host : And the movies like "Airplane!" and "Hot Shots!" are satirizing bad movies.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Okay, but are you saying, think about this, a high principle now, we're discussing: Are you saying there are subjects that are off limits for satire? High-minded pictures are off limits for satire?

  Roger Ebert - Host : No, I'm not saying that at all.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Sure sounds like it.

  Roger Ebert - Host : No no no, what I'm saying is, this is not a high-minded picture.

  Gene Siskel - Host : No no no.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Oh, I see. Sure, if they want to, I said in my review, the satire is not very sharp. Basically, the scenes are not really satirizing other movies, just as black stereotypes, such as the woman who has all of the kids and they don't know who their daddy is. Which of the movies, the good movies, is that one from? It's not from any of them.

  Gene Siskel - Host : It's a joke! They're making a joke, and they're having fun with it, and people are recognizing it. You've got some guilt trip working on in your head...

  Roger Ebert - Host : No, I don't have a guilt trip.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Oh yeah, absolutely, because I think if you were a freer spirit, you'd say it's funny...

  Roger Ebert - Host : Would you like to see a movie just like this about Jews?

  Gene Siskel - Host : If the picture were funny, I'd be laughing.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Come on, I don't think we'd see that movie being made.

  Gene Siskel - Host : Well, I don't know, Roger, but that's a ridicu...

  Roger Ebert - Host : I don't think so. I don't think so.

  Gene Siskel - Host : ...I mean, is that the essence of your criticism of a comedy?

  Roger Ebert - Host : It's not, if it's not funny, then it is the essence.

  Gene Siskel - Host : But you said it WAS funny. You've got to re-think your thoughts.

  Roger Ebert - Host : No, I said there were some things in it that gave me big laughs.

  Gene Siskel - Host : And, and THOSE were okay.

• Gene Siskel - Host : And I think that on "Don't Be a Menace", my bottom line is: Blacks have a right to satirize themselves just like any other group.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Oh, I agree with that.

  Gene Siskel - Host : That, and I think they did it well this time.

  [to camera] 

  Gene Siskel - Host : That's it for this week...

  [back to Roger] 

  Gene Siskel - Host : and they're not really satirizing themselves, they're satirizing films about themselves.

  Roger Ebert - Host : Uh, that could lead to a long discussion.

  Gene Siskel - Host : I'm sure we'll have it.