The L.A. Riot Spectacular (2005)

Fans and critics are hailing this outrageous all-star satire, which bravely tackles Los Angeles' devastating riots that erupted after the Rodney King beating verdict -- a subject most filmmakers wouldn't touch with a 10-foot pole! As funny as it is thought-provoking, this gloriously politically incorrect comedy reenacts the videotaped beating and continues through the police officers' trial and the destructive aftermath. The film riffs on the city's explosive ethnic and social tensions, skewers the media's hunger for higher ratings and digs into the hypocrisy of the Los Angeles Police Department. The stellar cast features narrator Snoop Dogg, who performs Ice-T's landmark song "Colors," T.K. Carter (My Favorite Martian), Charles Durning (Tootsie), Emilio Estevez (Young Guns), Christopher McDonald (Happy Gilmore), Charles S. Dutton (Roc), Ronny Cox (Beverly Hills Cop) and George Hamilton (Love at First Bite) as the voice of Beverly Hills, plus appearances by adult stars Ron Jeremy and Tabitha Stevens.

This movie is horrible!

This movie is horrible. It was such a waste of money and time. It's not one of those movies that you can watch twice. September 21, 2008

My review of L.A. Riot Specacular

Not since South Park and Police Academy has comic satire been so bold, relentlessly offensive and outrageously funny. From the very first scene when white cops bet on the ethnicity of the driver of a car they pursue, you know what exactly you're in for. One of the officers, Powell (Estevez), claims that betting on black is always a safe bet. His partner, offensively-named Koon (McDonald), bets on Spanish. They start beating on Rodney King (Carter) who comes out from the vehicle while Snoop Dogg emerges form the sidelines a narrator--and a rapper. Back at the police station, there's even more racism as an officer debates on what derogatory name they should call black people. Soon enough, Asians, Jews, and Spanish people also get stereotyped and insulted, especially in satirical news stories. To add insult to injury, a TV crew follows the events for an Entertainment Show and, in a hilarious scene, the deaths and injuries increase along with the Nielson Ratings. Jonathan Lipnicki, best known as the little kid from Jerry Maguire, has a cameo as the son of an anti-Semitic father. George Hamilton also briefly shows up as a wealthy man--what a stretch!-- from Beverly Hills who tries to call order to all the chaos. Admittedly, the humor does get a bit redundant toward the end with more of the same ethnic jokes. Fortunately, writer/director Marc Klasfeld keeps the movie going at a fast, energetic pace that doesn't overstay its welcome at a running time of 80 minutes. Stay tuned through the end credits for additional scenes.

Please visit www.nycmovieguru.com to search for many more of my reviews. December 5, 2006

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