REVIEW: White Chicks

By Morgan M.

Despite being released over twenty years ago, White Chicks is a very popular movie at Airport High School. Many students have their own opinion on how they feel about the movie but most really love it . White Chicks is a 2004 comedy film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and starring brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans . The movie follows two FBI agents who go undercover as rich white women to solve a kidnapping case . Its top disguises , and social commentary on race , class , and beauty standards . It became a fan favorite over time because of its memorable jokes and unique concept . It also stands out as one of the most well-known comedies from the early 2000s . In my opinion, the movie is a very good movie to watch if you ever just need a laugh. It's the type of movie where you can just sit and rewatch several different times throughout the day , night , years , or months. It brings so much laughter wherever you watch it . 

There are many reasons why I feel that many people love this movie, and here is one.. First of all , White Chicks bring a lot of laughter to many people . The extreme makeup , the awkward dancing , wardrobe malfunctions , and  catchy moments are some of the best outstanding parts about the movie. Many people may not expect to see what was shown during this movie; it really embraces the early 2000s vibe . It's recommended for most adults although many teens enjoy it . 

Secondly , White Chicks stands out for its good acting from the Wayans Brothers. Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who are brothers in real life, have a similar comedic style in a good way. They both had a lot of good body language , facial expressions , and exaggerated movements . Because they were acting as if they were basic girls they walked a certain way , flipped their hair , and acted surprised . Although their real identities are Black FBI agents ( Marcus and Kevin Copeland ), they convincingly play two white females and nail their impressions.

A third reason why I feel like many people love this movie is because they throw shade to basic girls in a funny playful way and not to hurt anyone's feelings .  There are many examples of this, like mimicking and exaggerating. For example, it was said in the movie “ Oh my God , Brittany , your face looks … different !” or “ it's called collagen , sweetie look it up .” Another example is the sarcasm which is when they sound polite but have a sting underneath for example when they say things like “ You’re just so brave for wearing that,” or “ Wow you're so confident for not using foundation .” During these moments of the movie it threw shade but it was also very funny to the audience that even the target of the jokes can laugh at themselves. 

So far this review has been my opinion only, but I wanted to hear others opinions from AHS . Plenty of students and staff from AHS  have seen this film , but I wanted an opinion from Ms. Jackson, our counselor. She said, “ That was a very funny movie” and  in the end, I loved the bond that the ’white chicks’ made with the other girls in the group and there were some very good messages along the way. And it'll always be the song for me......"Making my way Downtown."

I also asked for an opinion from a staff member here at AHS, Ms. Barrett, business education teacher . She said, “ I thought White Chicks was a funny movie, but it also highlighted a lot of stereotypes about white blonde women, Black men, and even how Black women are sometimes perceived. The film also shows some truth about how people with money can treat those who work in service roles.” In addition, Ms. Barrett added, “It touches on so many different social areas, and the humor really stands out when you’ve actually seen or experienced some of those stereotypes in real life. Of course, not everyone fits into those portrayals, but the movie uses comedy to make you think about how these stereotypes still show up in society today. “ 

Turning to critics , here is what I found online . According to one review available from Rotten Tomatoes , “White Chicks is a low-brow, scattershot comedy with an absurd, implausible plot and heavy reliance on crude humor and stereotypes it holds a rating of 3.9/10 and a score of about 41/100 on Metacritics . However the film has since gained a lot more reviews . Many people have many different opinions and views on this movie . Another reviewer, Nell Minow, did not give this movie a positive score. In her comments, on the same Rotten Tomatoes link listed earlier, she says, “Predictable farce isn't very funny or original.” 

Overall , despite what some critics say, I would give White Chicks a 10 out of 10 stars. I recommend it for anyone who's maybe having a bad day , someone who just wants to have a better day , or even someone who just wants to laugh . It is a very outstanding movie that deserves more stars and more hype than it has ever had . You can watch it on Netflix or  Apple TV .