neumu [ cinematronic ]




	Black Knight
	Gil Junger Martin Lawrence, Tom Wilkinson 2001		"A Compton Homey in King Arthur's Court"? Almost — and less amusing than it sounds. Martin Lawrence ("Big Momma's House") is Jamal Walker, an underachieving wise-mouthed worker at a failing medieval theme park in Los Angeles. While on the job, he tumbles into the moat and emerges in Olde England during the Dark Ages. Jamal's the only black man for continents; he's wearing modern garb and yelping inner-city dialect. Naturally, the denizens of King Leo's domain believe the visitor to be a Moorish emissary from a foreign land. There's the usual fish-out-of-Watts, culture-clash foolery. Jamal teaches some minstrels how to play Sly & the Family Stone's "Dance to the Music," gets it on with a randy princess and leads a rebellion against the oppressive ruler. There's even a sistah among the ladies-in-waiting to serve as Jamal's love interest. Verily, the writing is weak, and Lawrence's clownin' don't cut it. Note: The polished Tom Wilkinson appears as a knight on the skids. Had to be the paycheck.