Frankenhood stars DeRay Davis, Jasper Redd, Charlie Murphy (Chappelle’s Show) and Bob Sapp. The film’s plot is fairly simple really. Motown and Darius work in a morgue but long for the elusive better life. They see the upcoming Streetball tournament as a potential way out because if they win the prize they’ll be $25,000 richer (man, that used to sound like a lot of money!). Of course, they need a third man for their team- someone big, strong, agile,….undead.
Brought to life by the duo’s co-worker, Franklin (Murphy), the beast is brought to life courtesy of an old Gremlin’s battery and is promptly recruited by the duo to be the third member of their team in the tournament. The plot doesn’t get much thicker than that but it plays out in funny ways most of the time. The “birth” of their “mutant friend” made me laugh out loud and some of the basketball scenes are so funny that you just can’t help but keep laughing. What the film is lacking really is heart. It tries really hard to pull you into the plight of the main characters but it just never manages to do it. It’s just to unbelievable to make you buy into its schtick with hook, line, and sinker.
While Murphy is funny at times, its really Davis and Redd who keep the comedy in Frankenhood grounded. They are a pretty funny team and I hope they do more films together because if this is what they can do with such a weak script, imagine what they could do with someone who really has something for them to portray. Overall this isn’t a bad movie by any stretch but I certainly wouldn’t race to pick it up either. There are enough funny moments that you won’t leave filled with regret. The DVD also includes behind the scenes and deleted scenes as well as a wide screen presentation.
Reviewed by Mark Fisher
