Karry Best movie of this year hands down!

Comwayon A Disappointing Continuation

Plustown A lot of perfectly good film show their cards early, establish a unique premise and let the audience explore a topic at a leisurely pace, without much in terms of surprise. this film is not one of those films.

Kayden This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Parker Lewis The send-up of black stereotypes really stood out in one moment in the movie, where there's a TV commercial for the Robert Taylor Black Acting School where all the instructors are white and they "teach" African- American actors how to act black. Very sharp and so true.I know there's freedom of speech and so on, but seriously, the gratuitous swearing in Hollywood Shuffle turned me off. I know that people will say that swearing is part of life and movies need to reflect life, but really, I never heard anyone say after a movie "I wish the movie had more swearing!!" Really, when you think about it, the Batman trilogy didn't need to have swearing on every second line, but it became a mega-success.

jodimoran If you're looking for a review that makes you laugh out loud with its eviscerating witticisms and memorable one-line slams, then skip to another review now. I don't write many of these things, but love this movie enough to take the time to add my 2 cents here. Hollywood Shuffle is one of my Xmas presents to myself this year (its 20 year anniversary...and thank goodness for Amazon's overseas deliveries!) and I just finished watching it with my daughter. Townsend's sentimentality and gentle sense of humor are old friends and I'm looking forward to sharing this movie with as many people as I can. Living overseas as a high school teacher since '99 has been interesting, especially in terms of the view of African Americans. It's funny, but teens overseas tend to think of actors like Will Smith, singers like Beyonce' or 50 Cent, and sports stars like…well, insert-familiar-name-here, whenever they think of blacks in the states. Hollywood Shuffle, with its sentimental depiction of a fatherless working class family and a young man pursuing his dream, speaks to teens of all ethnicities, and touches on the timeless themes of self-respect, the importance of family and coming of age. There's more here than just a running gag of ethnic stereotyping in Hollywood (easy enough to do, and particularly relevant a decade on from the Roots frenzy), and part of this depth is Townsend's ability to play with irony. In his dreams of breaking free of the choke-hold of ethnic stereotypes, Bobby dreams of passing beyond the white velvet rope into the land of superhero, macho and international stereotypes. Why can't he fight for truth & justice while wearing tights? "Bed" a woman on his desk? Or be a classically trained thespian with a Queen's English accent? And part of the humor in his stand-up shtick was Townend's contrast between what we saw and what we heard, particularly with the proper English accent. I've turned a class of 8th graders on to Undercover Brother, and now I think it's going to be interesting to have that same class of Chinese, Korean, Indian and British boys watch this film. I think it will move them, touch their hearts AND provide them with laughs. Like it's done me.

vchimpanzee Bobby Taylor wants to be a respected actor, but he has to settle for stereotypical roles in the white-dominated world of cinema. It is clear, as he rehearses in the movie's opening scenes, that the role he is auditioning for is not exactly what he has in mind. When the movie is actually filmed, it gives the term 'Blaxploitation' a whole new meaning.Bobby lives with his brother Stevie and his grandmother, and he is often told he could work at the post office. He does have a job at Winky Dinky Dog, a hot dog place where Donald and Tiny are his co-workers, though his auditions interfere with his ability to be on the job when needed. The most popular sitcom on TV stars a comical bat/man who isn't exactly Cliff Huxtable.As Bobby agonizes over this role, he has fantasies about what could happen. The fantasies are the best part of the movie.In one scene, slaves are escaping, and the one guy who worked in the house makes Stepin Fetchit look like Sidney Poitier. The same actor later turns quite sophisticated in a commercial for Black Acting School, which is taught by white instructors, where aspiring actors only learn stereotypes. Light-skinned blacks need not apply.In another fantasy, Bobby imagines that, since Siskel and Ebert are white guys who don't know what they are talking about, his people are represented by a couple of brothers in 'Sneakin' In The Movies'. Among the characters lampooned in this fantasy are Amadeus, Indiana Jones and Dirty Harry. And there is a movie about pimps and hookers that is ten times worse than anything real.Probably the best fantasy of all happens while Bobby and his grandmother are watching 'Sam Ace', a Humphrey Bogart type movie. The film 'Death of a Breakdancer', done in black and white with the film noir style (including jazz music) stars Bobby as a black Sam Ace. While the film shows positive images, stereotypes can still be found--Jerry Curl is one of the suspects and very funny.Rambo becomes Rambro in another scene.Should we be enjoying all these offensive portrayals of African-Americans? Of course. Robert Townsend is black, and he produced, directed and co-wrote this movie and did a fine job of acting as well. His purpose was obviously to make fun of stereotypes. And Bobby shows that he has pride, and doesn't have to accept disrespect.As a white person, I was not bothered by the fact that the majority of white people in this movie are portrayed in an over-the-top manner, especially the people responsible for the movie for which Bobby is auditioning. We're not like that, and I know it.This movie was made on a budget, but one reason was the use of the same actors in many different roles. For the most part, it doesn't seem low-budget.One of the better moments in the 'real' world takes place in the barbershop run by Bobby's Uncle Ray. David McKnight does an admirable job in a dramatic scene.I highly recommend this movie.

onlylivingboy I've forced this film on all my friends and there isn't one who regrets seeing it. A couple haven't been that enthusiastic at first; thought it was all right but didn't understand the fuss I make about it, but the next day they'll want to watch it again.I find it pretty embarrassing when someone quotes the inevitable Austin Powers, but for months after seeing this film I just couldn't help it - probably the reason I had to get everyone I know to watch it.Some films have great scenes and some are just good films; this is both. Genuinely funny with real heart.Say it with me now: WINKY DINKY DOGGG.