Black Sheep . Tucson Weekly . 02-15-96

Black Sheep

DIRECTED BY: Penelope Spheeris

REVIEWED: 02-15-96

Chris Farley and David Spade of Saturday Night Live dominate this fat guy/thin guy, dumb guy/smart guy formula comedy. Farley plays the accident-prone, embarrassing brother of an aspiring senator--a sort of Billy Carter figure. Spade plays the political handler sent to babysit him. Both characters seem to be in their early twenties, though the actors are older. The script is predictable and bland with some unbearably sentimental moments thrown in just to torture the audience. Farley, in his blithe willingness to humiliate himself over and over, does manage to be quite funny sometimes, despite the material. The director, Penelope Spheeris, made some wonderful films in the eighties but has sunk to projects like this and The Beverly Hillbillies movie. If you want to see something honest and funny, rent her wonderful documentary about headbangers: The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years.

--Stacey Richter

Other Films by Penelope Spheeris
Senseless
The Decline of Western Civilization III

Film Vault Suggested Links
Caveman
His Girl Friday
Hav Plenty

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