Richard Rountree created the role in the titular 1971 blaxploitation classic (directed by Gordon Parks). Samuel L. Jackson revisited the role in 2000 (with the late John Singleton at the helm). In this version, Jessie T. Usher plays the 3rd generation badass private detective. Actually, he starts as a whitebread FBI analyst who’s had no contact with his dad until the extremely predictable plot gets underway. That’s when the fun begins. Although there are a few shootouts, this is more a relationship comedy than an action film. It allows Jackson to showcase his comic chops with sassy street talk and dead-on timing. Anyone expecting the hard-edged approach of the original may be disappointed, but audiences who want to enjoy Jackson at the top of his game will have a good time (the other 2 have a few moments too).
(3.5 / 5)