Black Sheep (Widescreen)

 

 

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Black Sheep(released Feb/96)was the second vehicle that starred SNL alumni Chris Farley and David Spade,the first having been Tommy Boy.Both were successes at the box office,but this film is straining for laughs at most times.SNL creator Lorne Michaels was at the helm but the I-can-see-this-joke-coming-a-mile-away thing is just beaten to death here.Farley's familiar gesticulations coupled with his screaming at the top of his voice "Oh my God" or "Stawwp!" with a red face,may have worked well in other venues but they fall flat here.Spade here is comedically neutered;his sharp "counter-punches" have been turned into wrist slaps.I recall that the filming of this was less than a pleasant experience for all involved,especially the writer,director,producer and Spade.It's a wonder it got made at all,with the off screen acrimony to have seemingly contributed to the lacklustre end product.
The story is a simple one.A candidate for Governor of Washington one Al Donnelly(Tim Matheson,who starred in a spate of frat house films in the /80s),as a younger brother Mike played by Chris Farley who is kind of the "black sheep" of the family;a good hearted guy but kind of a bull in a china shop and stumble bum.A man on Al's campaign staff Steve Dodds(Spade)offers to keep an eye on Al's brother until the campaign is over.
While driving into town Steve gets his car taken by a local recluse named Drake Sabbitch(played with great elan by Gary Busey),after he insults him.In no time it seems Steve has got his hands full with Mike as one faux paux follows quickly after yet another.On top of this two things are on the go:a couple of snoopy reporters are following Mike and Steve getting compromising pictures of Mike and the incumbent governor who Al is running against,is playing dirty ball by fixing votes and trying to play up Mike's bumbling for public consumption.
While up in the boonies Steve and Mike run across Steve's stolen car at Drake's house but end up getting jumped by him.As Sabbitch leans hard on Steve,Mike comes to the rescue with some good take down moves and the two become instant friends.A plan is formulated to get hard evidence against the governor and her staff and to hi-jack her conference in Olympia,along with the help of Drake.
They crash the conference and after Mike crashes to the ground from the top of a remote TV aerial,he takes a security guards gun and takes Steve as his hostage,to gain attention.Joined on the podium is Drake.Between them they prove beyond a doubt the fraud that has been perpetrated on the voters.As the film ends Mike and Al are back as family should be and as Mike sees his brothers small jet off,his coat gets caught in the door and off he flies with his brother-on the outside of course.
Juvenile jokes galore such as:Farley "falling" down a mountain side,with his "memorable" line at the bottom"What was with that?",a large stone sitting precariously above the cabin that you just KNOW is going to come down on the cabin at some point and does,miniatures of the cabin at night with the roof blowing off then Farley above Spade in a bunk bed when it hails through the open roof,and on and on.Regarding this last one,it is another perfect example of how Spade's counterpoint lacks any punch and the overall gag falls flat.When it hails he asks Farley in the bunk above him how the weather is "up there",as Farley gets pummeled by ever deepening hail.It is not the usual biting sarcasm we are used to from Spade and when Farley's upper bunk inevitably gives out(as we know it will)and smunches Spade,any laugh that ever was in that set up,is fully dissipated.And of course we have the "beautiful" line when Farley is driving a police cruiser,is stopped and is talking to a another policeman,with Spade as his "prisoner",pointing to Spade he says" He...butchered 400 chickens and crewed a beagle".Memorable,no?.....NO!
Technically speaking the DVD is in w/s format and the picture is pretty clear and the sound is good.There are no extras.
All in all a disappointing Farley/Spade movie and just plain disappointing over all,especially the from the gags,which are telegraphed ahead,mostly juvenile and executed terribly.Not a great notch in the belt of the late Farley's legacy.

I must start this review by saying that I love David Spade and
Chris Farley* because they are just HILARIOUS together! This movie is about a man who is trying to make his brother win in the gubetorial election in the state of Washington, but the brother (played by Farley) is such an embarrassment that he is asked to keep down low and campaign in a county where there are forests everywhere with Spade. There are many laughs because of the two actors. I don't think it would be nearly as funny if any other two actors were picked for the parts. Worth a watch! A funny flick!

*it's so sad that he overdosed because he was a comedic legend. 33 is too young. There is a Chris Farley Foundation that educates you about drugs started by his family (chrisfarleyfoundation.org).

This is the Best of there two Movies this one is classic entertainment and is Chris Farley at his best wich was great it was a very enjoyable movie.He was the Brother of the guy running for governor and was getting into lots of introuble.
Story 9 Acting 10 Directing 9 Action 10 Entertainment 10
Overall=48/50 wich is 96% This is a 5 star movie.

This is Highly recomended and maybe the Best of him and Sandler

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5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME!
Chris Farley and David Space are awesome in this movie. Mike Donnelly can't seem to improve his brother Al's campaign for Washington governor at all. Read more

Published on April 13 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars love the movie, hate the special feattures.
This movie is all great and all but I like Tommy Boy better. Plus I again hate the special features. Read more

Published on Feb 17 2004 by newfound32

5.0 out of 5 stars Kinda like tommy boy
tommy boy is one of the best comedies ever and this compares to it david spade and chris farley are in it again and they are hillarious.

Published on Jan 6 2004 by Brian

4.0 out of 5 stars "KILL WHITEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
This Movie Has The SNL Duo By Chris Farley (R.I.P) And David Spade Some Great One Liners and Very Funny Moments Make This Worth Owning Spade And Farley Are One of The Top 5 On... Read more

Published on Nov 1 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny!
I like Saturday Night Live and I like Chris Farley and David Spade who used to be on SNL and though Tommy Boy is my favorite of their movies I liked Black Sheep too and thought it... Read more

Published on Oct 8 2003 by Thebookwoman

3.0 out of 5 stars A Cheap Rip-Off of their Previous Collaboration
I actually rate this movie with 2.5 stars. It has no purpose. We experienced the magic of the Farley/Spade comedy connection in "Tommy Boy"; why didn't they just leave... Read more

Published on Sep 2 2003 by Y. Collins

2.0 out of 5 stars No, no no!!!
With the big success of Tommy Boy, people thought they needed another quick hit with both Farley and Spade. Read more

Published on July 30 2003 by ZJ Hamilton

5.0 out of 5 stars contrary to popular belife this is better than tommy boy in
my humble opinon. yes. black sheep is the funnyest thing youll see this side of hong kong. ort maybe notr hong kong because i cant fing hong kong on the map. cn you? Read more

Published on July 22 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars More Zany Antics from Chris Farley
Chris Farley proved himself on Saturday Night Live that he was a comedic genius. While he made a big screen name for himself in "Tommy Boy," he fares just as funny in "Black... Read more

Published on May 27 2003 by Jeffrey Miller

4.0 out of 5 stars A delightful movie, but a lackluster DVD
To put it simply, Black Sheep is on my list of Top 100 Funniest Movies Ever. The chemistry between Chris Farley (RIP) and David Spade is unbelievable (not to mention... Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by Jay

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