I'm Gonna Git You Sucka

A couple of years before his breakthrough TV hit In Living Color, filmmaker Keenen Ivory Wayans made this spoof of ‘70s black exploitation movies. In addition to writing and directing, Wayans also stars as Jack Spade, an ex-soldier who returns home after the death of his brother Junebug (who OG'd—that is, died from wearing too many gold chains). Spade enlists the iconic John Slade (Bernie Casey)—a Shaft clone—to help him bring down the gangland empire of Mr. Big, whose minions are pushing bling on the streets (and forcing buyers deep into debt). Slade in turn entices other cohorts, including Hammer (Isaac Hayes), Slammer (Jim Brown), and a famous pimp named Flyguy (Antonio Fargas)—think Super Fly—to join the righteous crusade, and eventually confront Big (John Vernon). Wayans is amusing as a hero who's more like the Cowardly Lion, and in addition to the ‘70s stars, the film also features Wayans's brother Damon, and then-up-and-comers David Alan Grier and Chris Rock. I'm Gonna Git You Sucka is clearly in the tradition of Zucker-Abrahams send-ups such as the Airplane! and Naked Gun movies, but its ratio of hits to misses is unfortunately much lower. Extras include a “making-of” featurette, and bonus interviews. Despite some dull patches, this still offers enough laughs to make it a strong optional purchase. (F. Swietek)