Arts & Entertainment
Film Noir Review
"Little Man" is loaded with laughs!
by Judy Marker, Movie Critic
If they had let me read the script for "Little Man" before I screened it, I would have told the three Wayans brothers to save their money.
Yet after seeing their final product, leave it to them to surprise me once again. Don’t get me wrong now, I was one of just a few critics to give "White Chicks" a positive review in 2004. It went on to earn an impressive $70 million while costing only about $8 million to make.
Now comes "Little Man" and this comedy must be seen to be understood.
With eldest brother Keenen Ivory again directing, Marlon is Calvin Sims, a 36-year-old hard line ex-con who stands all of about 2 1/2 feet tall. Leave it to computer-generated images to help provide the laughs here.
Actually it is just his head on the body of real life nine-year old Linden Porco. Seeing is believing and you must believe it all to enjoy the picture.
Calvin working for local mob boss Walken (Chazz Palminteri "Running Scared") steals the famed Queen Diamond from a Chicago jewelry store with the help of his bumbling partner Percy (Tracy Morgan "Saturday Night Live") With the police in pursuit, the duo flees into a drug store.
Rather then be caught with the diamond, Calvin conveniently drops the multimillion dollar gem into the large purse of Vanessa Edwards (Kerry Washington "Fantastic 4") who just happens to be unaware of the situation.
Married to Darryl (brother Shawn) they are hoping her trip to the drug store will give them the news they have long been awaiting. Both are hoping for their first child to be on the way.
Leaving the store, Calvin and Percy follow her home. To gain access to the home, they come up with the idea of Calvin disguising himself as a baby left on the Edwards’ doorstep. Will we all fall for their trick?
It is late Friday when they discover Calvin at the door. With Child Services closed until Monday, the Edwards decide to keep the child until then. It will be a test of parenting skills unknown until "Little Man."
The Wayans have assembled a dedicated cast that provides their best efforts. This includes John Witherspoon ("Soul Plane") as Pops, Vanessa’s wise father who lives with them and gives us an added treat smelling more than Calvin’s dirty diapers.
A warning to parents. "Little Man" is rated "PG-13" for crude and sexual humor throughout, language and drug references. It should be "R" rated and I suggest you leave the kids at home.
"Little Man" has a running time of 90 minutes and you should stay for the credits to actually find out the true ending to the picture.
The Wayans are again entertaining and that is why "Little Man" receives my rating of "3-J’s/ worthy effort!"
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