In his They Cloned Tyrone review, SHIFTER’s Kevin Bourne says the film is deceivingly intelligent and a book that shouldn’t be judged by its cover.
A pimp, a ho and a drug dealer. Minutes into They Cloned Tyrone you feel a though you’re in for two hours of a lazy and uninteresting play on Black stereotypes. While there are a number of Black stereotypes seen throughout the film, it’s with reason.
The unlikely trio of Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), the fearful, stuck in the 70’s pimp, his ho Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), who always up on what’s going down in the streets, and Fontaine (John Boyega), the fearless neighborhood drug dealer, must join forces to unearth a government conspiracy in their predominantly Black neighborhood known as “The Glen”. As the story takes sudden twists and turns, the trio learn that the world as they know it isn’t what it seems. Standing in their way is a group of scientists and officials looking to keep their covert experiment under wraps.
At first, They Cloned Tyrone feels like a disaster waiting to happen; one of those films I would try my hardest to love, but couldn’t. Thankfully, similar to the character of Yo-Yo, the film was deceivingly intelligent, although on the outside it appears to be the exact opposite.
On screen, Foxx, Parris and Boyega have exceptional chemistry. They not only have a friendship that’s believable, including scenes that look like they are improvised, but together they make this highly unlikely story believable. The film is full of subtle humor and banter, especially between Slick Charles and Yo-Yo, that won’t be lost on Black audiences―wet naps being the answer to everything and “The block is hotter than a fresh perm”.
The visual storytelling of Juel Taylor was on point, featuring close ups and scenes with little to no dialogue where the actors are allowed to shine, conveying the story without words. There are a few long, drawn out shots that seem awkward at first, but somehow do a good job of creating tension and angst.
With its 70’s murder mystery soundtrack and wardrobe, They Cloned Tyrone is a pimped out take on the classic murder caper. As Yo-Yo says in the film, “Nancy Drew ain’t got shit on me.”
But there’s a deeper story about government mind control and the Black community. Although the story is over the top, the film is really a social commentary on the issues faced by the Black community, asking who is really to blame.
The film is equal parts entertaining and insightful, and figuratively speaking a book that shouldn’t be judged by its cover.
They Cloned Tyrone premieres July 21st on Netflix.
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