Recommended Viewing

Pootie Tang

Year of release: 2001.
Writer/Director: Louis C.K.
Starring: Lance Crouther, Chris Rock, Robert Vaughn, Jennifer Coolidge,
J.B Smoove, and Robert Vaughn.


This movie is set in Chicago, Illinois in 2001. Pootie Tang (Lance Crouther) is a rapper/movie star/crime fighter who is looked upon as a role model. The most original trait that he possesses is his vocabulary. No one can actually understand what he’s saying, but they always know what he means. Subtitles are a must here, and you might even start using words like ‘capachow’, ‘sa-da-tay’, and ‘leepa-leepa chai’ in your day-to-day life.

Pootie had a relatively normal childhood until his mother died, and in the space of a few short weeks, his father also died (how you ask? watch and find out). On his deathbed, Daddy Tang gives his belt to young Pootie. With that belt, he can defeat anyone who stands in his way. Among these enemies is a drug lord called Dirty Dee (Reg E. Cathey), and his enforcer, Froggy (J.D Williams).

Daddy Tang also gives Pootie some advice before he passes away; "Don’t let the ladies come between you and the belt".

Like Samson had his hair from which to draw strength, Pootie had the belt. But also like Samson, without that source of strength, he was a mere mortal.

Pootie also gains momentous popularity by appearing in a series of public service announcements, urging children to stay away from fast food, cigarettes and alcohol, industries that are all run by Corporate America, controlled by Dick Lecter (Robert Vaughn). Lecter and his evil employees’ first try to get Pootie on board to endorse his products, by proposing a one year, multi-million dollar deal for his services.

When this plan fails, Lecter and his board decide to take a more sinister route. Ireenie (Jennifer Coolidge), a white seductress, is sent out by Lecter to find Pootie’s weakness. But can she expose his weakness?

In Pootie Tang, Louis C.K writes and directs a film that serious DVD or video rental junkies should avoid at all costs. This movie is not meant for general consumption, meaning that there’s only a certain demographic that will get the humour in this film. On the handy side, for those that cannot follow the story, there are pop up screen titles whenever someone significant comes into the film.

This movie is not a cinematic masterpiece, nor is it socially significant, but if you’re looking for cheap laughs in the vein of Beavis And Butt-Head or The Chris Rock Show (from which the character of Pootie Tang was originally conceived), this is your movie.

I definitely rate this movie to be in the 12-20-age bracket. So if it’s a night in with your mates in front of the T.V, Pootie tang makes for ideal viewing.

My Rating: *** ½ (out of 5)

- Fridge.