Today is the 30th anniversary of The Wayans Bros. Don't Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood. An long outlandish title that everyone just calls Don't Be A Menace. If you ask me this spoof of 90's "hood" movies, is a top 3 film from the Wayans family. And the best spoof ever created by the family.
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka kickstarted Keenan Ivory Wayans career, which led to the classic sketch show In Living Color. He bought his family along for the ride.
While Scary Movie put Shawn and Marlon into the stratosphere of pop culture in the early 2000's. By the way, I think they will bring the franchise back to glory with the upcoming sequel Scary Movie 6.
Don't Be A Menace though took from the foundation of I'm Gonna Git You Sucka while laying the groundwork for Scary Movie, and is overall a better film. While making the most complete spoof ever. In honor of the film here are ten of the funniest scenes.
10. Liquor Store
A funny scene not only for the line and antics. Also for the social commentary regarding the profiling of young Black men particularly in Asian owned stores. While other races rob them blind, showing the Wayans are as smart as they are funny.
9. You Are Not The Father
A few years before the talk show Maury became famous, for its paternity test episodes. The Wayans may have gave him the idea, with this simple yet funny scene.
8. Grandma
An old grandmother thats battle tested and an "OG" of the streets. Testing her grandson, when I first saw this scene I thought it was the craziest thing ever.
7. Hotep Jungle Fever
Before Hotep was a word, the Wayans took aim at seemingly pro Black men who are attracted to women of other races. Highlighting the walking contradiction some of these guys are.
6. Father & Son Talk
Imagine having a talk with your father, and he purposely gives you all the bad advice in the world. Thats this scene lol.
5. Sunday Sermon
Another social commentary riff. This time on pastors who seem to have it all, while their congregation struggles. Comedian Lester Barrie also gave this scene his all.
4. Stomping Toothpicks Boy
In a spoof of a scene taken right from the 1993 film Menace II Society. Even using the same actor, The Wayans offer the most childish "beat down" ever.
3. Father & Son Haircut
In one of the first displays of how "off the wall" the world in the film is. Ashtray played by Shawn Wayans has a talk with his father, who he is actually older than. Taking from Boyz 'N The Hood, the bonding scene produces strange topics.
Not only that Easter eggs for eagle eyed viewers like plastic slip covers over everything. Which was a running joke in Black households, especially if the household is ran by the grandparents.
2. Gang Initation Scene
A true upside down on the idea of a gang initiation. Jump Roping?
1. Officer Self Hate
Another character spoofing Boyz 'N The Hood. Bernie Mac steals the show as a self-hating Black man who happens to be a police officer. He has no problem sharing how much he hates himself and asserting his power as a cop. Though its played for laughs perfectly, it also sheds light on a serious issue.
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