Black Dynamite (2009) Review: A Perfect Blaxploitation Spoof from Afro Top to Bell-Bottom!

Dyno-mite! Dyno-mite! Tired of trying to feelin’ like a jive-ass turkey all the time? Well, now you can escape for a few hours with Black Dynamite. This film’ll teach you how to talk the talk, but you gotta walk the walk on your own, baby.

Black Dynamite (Michael Jai White) learns that his brother was murdered so he goes on a warpath of vengeance the likes of which this world has never seen! During the investigations of the murder, Black Dynamite unfolds a massive web of deceit that goes all the way to the top! 

Somehow, Black Dynamite perfectly spoofs 1970s blaxploitation films while respectfully and playfully looking back at the genre as a whole. It has everything you could want from a forgotten blaxploitation classic, from the cavalcade of pimps and weirdos, to the negative portrayal of white people, to the frequent gaffs which come with making ultra low budget films, to the smooth and studly ultra-kung-fu eponymous hero himself, Black Dynamite.

Michael Jai White’s background is primarily in martial arts and action, but as Black Dynamite he proves he knows how to make jokes land as well as his kicks. He alternates between stoic, steel-eyed intensity to wild-eyed energy that evokes Bruce Lee kicking groins and ripping out Chuck Norris’ chest hair. He even reprised the character for the short-lived and muck-beloved animated series, wisely reducing the stoicism to bring a livelier quality to an animated character’s voice.

Shaft. Coffy. Super Fly. Black Dynamite. BD stands with the best and don’t mess with the rest! This is one flick you’ll want to watch repeatedly because there’s so many quick gags you’ll laugh at one and miss three more. It also sprinkles some great action into the mix, delivering all of the wild, all-bets-are-off kind of fights you’d want in something like this. Plus it was all filmed on actual, film-film to give it that perfect blaxploitation look. I truly can’t recommend Black Dynamite enough!

Time Until Action Starts: ~ 2 ½ minutes

Baddies: White people and the government!

Best Line: There are a butt-ton of great lines in this film, but one of my favorites is when a guy calls Black Dynamite and says, “We heard about your brother’s death, and we don’t want you running around turning the streets into rivers of blood.” To which Black Dynamite responds with: “Then tell me who did it, and I’ll just leave a puddle.” That’s my kind of man!

Best Reason for a Kill: Black Dynamite and his friends discover that one of their group members drank a concoction put out by the baddies, and anyone that drinks this concoction will suffer from shrinkage of the penis, and this guy was no exception. The worst was realized when they open his pants and see their friend’s “little dick.” Black Dynamite loves this friend so much that he and his other friends shoot this poor guy to death. Such noble friends to be able to put a guy out of his misery.

Action Rating: 3 ½ Black Dynamites, out of 5.

This is the Action Flick Chick, and you’ve just been kicked in the ass!

Edited by Alex Langley. Rocket Llama World Headquarters.