Oh, my guuudness! Jumping on the Tyler Perry train, Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence are set to star in a feature film based on outrageous female characters last seen on 'In Living Color' and 'Martin.'
Screen Gems has acquired Sheneneh and Wanda, a comic vehicle for Jamie Foxx and Martin Lawrence to star in.
The duo is set to play female characters they developed during their stand-up comedy days in the comic caper film. Foxx will write the script, and he and Martin will produce it together through Foxx's Foxxhole and Lawrence's Runteldat banners (production companies).
The project originated as a parody of a movie trailer for a film called 'Skank Robbers,' which Foxx and Lawrence made for the BET Awards (watch below!).
The reaction was strong enough that the duo decided to turn the concept into a real film. In the comedy, Sheneneh and Wanda are modern-day independent women trying to make it on their own, one bank robbery at a time. Source: Screen Gems falls for 'Sheneneh' - Variety
I'm sure I would not apply the term "modern-day independent woman" to throwback parodies Sheneneh or Wanda. In fact, it's an insult. And where Foxx's Wanda used to throw me into hysterics and Wanda's "Heyyyyyy" was my go-to to get a laugh back in the day, I don't think an impoverished woman with a wandering eye is so funny anymore. And I can see Sheneneh's limited world view and not-so-smart life choices even if the male creator of her character doesn't perceive her that way.
I HATE that I laughed at the trailer.
From Eddie Murphy in 'Doctor Doolittle' to Martin Lawrence in 'Big Momma's House' to Tyler Perry as Madea, the number of black men dressing as black women for laughs is feeling oppressive. Maybe it's worse because there are so few strong black female characters to counterbalance these jokes. Even the vision of the strong "urban babe" bank robber has been relegated to the '90s -- unless you're on Wall Street. We are more than a decade away from 'Set if Off.' As troubled as those main characters were, they were strong, smart and dimensional.
What say YOU? Is there anything wrong with black men dressing up as black women for laughs?
Comments: (54)
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By: TAMIAFONTAINE on 11/09/2009 12:56PM
THIS MOVIE WILL MAKE A BILLION DOLLARS ...LOL
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By: Pam on 11/09/2009 6:28PM
I could use a good laugh. Laughter is the best medicine.
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By: Cecil Jones on 11/09/2009 6:27PM
These two could have just got in line at the unemployment office to receive "Disability." These two are "Poster Girls" for what's wrong with Blacks and why slavery still hurts. The movie could follow them through the schools, the gang life, and employment making a strong case that some people are born "Unequal." I love Foxx and Martin, but "Oh my guddness!" It's a hit for them, but another slap on the community like Tyler Perry, Oprah and their offerings.
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By: VERONICA on 11/09/2009 6:39PM
The truth hurts. What we see in Tyler Perry's movies is true. Why cover it up. I would rather watch his movies than something like She's Gotta Have it. That was a put down to our race. What about Jungle Fever. It's okay to put that out there, but don't write about something that is informative, but funny at the same time. Is is better to watch that sex filled junk? It's okay for other races to write about what goes on with them, but we should sweep the things that happen in out community under the rug. We as Black people have always had family reunions and they all run along the same path. Should we White wash them and lie to the public because a few uppity Blacks forgot where they came from? We need to laugh more. It's good for the soul.
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By: truth b told on 11/09/2009 10:37PM
So Veronica,
Why is it that Tyler Perry's movies with their overt, sappy messages, stereotypical characters and really, really bad dialogue are any better than Spike Lee's movies?
Just because black family reunions go a certain way, is that supposed to be the ONLY perspective on the black experience? Do you really think that situations like those depicted in Jungle Fever or She's Gotta Have It don't exist?
I fail to see how those movies sweep things under the rug, but Perry's films are supposed to be more real. Here's the thing that I think most black folk are missing: Tyler Perry is only telling you what you want to hear and you interpret that as the best depiction.
But there are TONS of other art that show many diverse views of our people. Get out of the groupthink mentality and challenge yourself.
Don't be such a goddamn sheep.
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By: VERONICA on 11/10/2009 2:24PM
Truth be told, you need to climb out of your bottle and look around. Join the real world. I'm not ashamed of where I came from. I enjoy my family reunions and family get togethers. We all have or had a Madea in our family, too bad you didn't. You missed out. We have a good old time when we get together and it still hasn't stopped us from becoming successful people. One reason is, we live for ourselves and the happiness and comfort of our families. We like to laugh and have a good time, but on the other hand, we can be serious when necessary. Yes, there is a message in Tyler Perry's movies. If you could look past being ashamed of the truth, you might get them. What is Spike's message? Screw anything moving? Now, that's something I wouldn't want to sit down and watch with my family.
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By: truth b told on 11/10/2009 11:12AM
Veronica! Darling,
Where did I say that you had to be ashamed of where you come from? What's more, where did I say there were no Madeas in my family?
On the contrary, there were plenty of Madea's in my family and other character types that Perry doesn't even bother to represent.
My question to you is what makes Tyler Perry's representation of black life in a film like "Madea's Family Reunion" any more accurate than Spike Lee's representation in "Do the Right Thing?"
Have you ever been to Brooklyn to even make an assumption like that?
All I'm saying that to insist that Tyler Perry's sassy old women, bloated preachers, and men who are either completely angelic or dastardly evil is only a two-dimensional representation done for entertainment purposes only.
If you base your life on Perry's so-called messages, you're probably cheating yourself. And that's our big problem, we want to think there is only one way of looking at things, and if someone comes along and tells us exactly what we want to hear, then that person is some type of mass media messiah.
Open your eyes, there are other foods for you to try besides chitterlings and collard greens.
What you're really saying is that the only perspective black folk should have is the one depicted by Tyler Perry, when not even HE suggests that himself.
That's why I told you not to be a sheep. Just following the crowd does nothing for you.
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By: Naja on 11/16/2009 12:07AM
Wonderful dialogue between you two.
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By: sblove99 on 11/10/2009 6:35PM
There was ignorant black people defending Stepin Fetchit in the early days of cinema when all black people did in movies was praise JEEZUS, steal chickens & play uncivilized african cannibals in movies. And here today we have the 21 century version of buffons on screen and off still laughing to death(literally).
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By: Mike on 11/10/2009 10:09PM
Do you think those early black actors had other dignified roles offered by white hollywood in 1890s - 1940? There was black owned cinema that was good at the same time. You need to investigate.
I think those blacks realized stepnfetchit was playing and winning in a vicious industry.
No insult but your comment is nuts.
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