There’s absolutely no reason why Gil Junger’s Black Knight should work. You’ve seen it a million times; in fact, you’re going to see it again next month when Universal releases How High. Jamal Walker (Martin Lawrence) goes Medievel, teaching white folk in 14th-century England how to get their groove on. Jamal leaves South Central via the moat at the amusement park he works at, learning honor in the wake of the peasant revolution he spearheads against the evil King Leo (Kevin Conway). Thanks to Lawrence’s deft comedic abilities, Black Knight’s first half is a consistent hoot. Squeaky-clean Jamal hates Medievel grime but doesn’t mind the skanky women. Once Jamal lets the dogs out, though, plot kicks in and Black Knight loses its bearings. Jamal’s reconstructed ghetto does the boot camp thing and it’s only a matter of time before the film’s black knight returns to the present with a few convenient memento moris. New Yorkers will love the film’s best joke: riling up the dethroned queen’s forces (think Michael Bloomberg’s camp) against Leo (think Mark Green), Jamal “gives them the old Al Sharpton.” This black brother sways history, only this time it’s for the better.
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