Black Dynamite (2009 film) = Finished

This movie chosen by a "Fennelsher" patron.

I get frustrated by parodies that poke fun at aspects of an original work, only to commit the same sins. Movies that mock sexism and are still, for the most part, sexist. Games that make jokes about awful tutorials and still have an awful tutorial (*cough* Far Cry: Blood Dragon *cough*). Comics that criticize overuse of the fourth wall by overusing the fourth wall in an in-universe comic that overuses the fourth--

This hole goes deep.

And those are the two types of parody I've seen to date. Either subversions of a base concept, or stumbling satire. Black Dynamite is something else entirely though. It shows a different, third path: revelry.

Instead of criticizing or commenting upon the original work, Black Dynamite says, "Hey, you know that Thing? We love that Thing. We love that Thing so much, we're going to do it all over again--flaws and all."

Black Dynamite is macho - to the extreme. When sex is involved, it is done Extremely. The conspiracy unearthed through the film's events revolves around the federal government giving black communities cheaply-priced liquor that makes penises smaller to address white insecurities, and culminates in Michael Jai White fighting Richard Nixon in the oval office. This is an extreme movie, and the appreciation of the creators for the wrinkles of Blaxploitation just as much as its exemplars redeemed it for me. Black Dynamite delights in the oddball production processes, mistakes, and sometimes problematic, ridiculous results of the genre. Where I might have felt a cringing confusion before, I now understand the individual ingredients that make these dated movies timeless for so many other people. Through the eyes of this team, I can see appeals of other Blaxploitation movies that I might have never noticed, or just taken for granted. 

Simply put: I get it. 

It helps that Black Dynamite was helmed and championed by a black creative team. Their perspective ensures that the pitfalls Black Dynamite suffers are dived into intentionally, with stylish aplomb. There is a LOT of garbage you could potentially lay at Black Dynamite's feet. Not understanding the nuances of the African American community it feels purpose-built for is not one of them.

This isn't outsiders making something for "those kinds of people", like the mindset motivating so many Blaxploitation movies produced even at the time. It is us, celebrating us, using the absurd genre that in many ways was previously used to objectify our people. 

Bring on Black Dynamite 2.