Considered to be one of the classic "Blaxploitation" films, this movie has amassed a huge cult following and has been immortalized by countless rap artists (Too Short and Ghost Face Killah o name a few)and has even been referenced in other movies ("True Romance"). Although, after recently seeing it again for the first time in eight years, it's hard to see why. Aside from some pretty funny (and colorful) dialogue (which is peppered with ghetto philosophy) this movie has almost nothing to recommend it. At least "Superfly" and "Shaft" had great music and charismatic heroes. All "The Mack" has is some of the poorest acting I have ever seen by an all black cast and some hilariously tacky wardrobes (even by 70's standards). Not to mention a predictable plot that moves at a snails pace( the only interesting element of which is the "players Ball"). The Soundtrack by Willie Hutch is also a disappointment. It doesn't even come close to the moody, emotional work that Curtis Mayfield did for "Superfly", or Marvin Gaye's memorable score for "Trouble Man". It's about as laughable as anything else in this film. I've often heard fans of this film refer to it's portrayal of the pimp trade as authentic(as I understand it, the cast includes real pimps as well as real life Oakland gangsters), but authenticity doesn't always make for a good movie. Maybe the Hughes Brothers should redo this movie and make it a period piece. At the very least they could give it some style, which was obviously to much to ask of this unintentionally funny film. This movie should be required viewing for all African American film students and movie buffs, you could call the class "Missed Opportunity 101: how to make a truly bad movie out of potentially compelling subject matter"
Review of The Mack
