Plot: What’s it about?
Ed Lover and Doctor Dre are barbers by trade, but these two buffoons don’t know a bob from a weave. After one too many botched haircuts, the two start to consider another line of work, but the potential professions are limited. These two might be bad barbers, but they don’t have many other skills either, which leaves them out in the cold. Nick (Jim Moody) owns the barber shop where they work and while he likes the two, he is frustrated with their work. He is also frustrated about his neighborhood, which has gone downhill. The area is swarmed with drug dealers and other criminals, which angers him to no end. He is finally forced to fire Doctor Dre and Ed Lover, but he offers a suggestion for future employment. The two are encouraged to enroll as police officers, as it might be a long shot, but it could work out. If nothing else, Nick would like to see two of his own boys on the force, in order to bring some kind of order to his neighborhood. The bumbling pair manage to pass the exams with some creative guesses, which shocks everyone, including themselves. The other officers don’t take to the unusual pair at first, thanks to their goofy antics, donut binges, and strange names. Now that Doctor Dre and Ed Lover are on the police force, can they help clean up their own neighborhood?
Doctor Dre and Ed Lover used to be famous, thanks to their popular show Yo MTV Raps, which was quite a hotbed at one time. But since the show went down the tubes, the two have all but vanished from the entertainment scene. You’ll see them from time to time, but these two guys were washed up in no time. Before the twosome turned into has-beens however, they starred as the leads in this film, Who’s the Man? But is the picture a shining moment for the duo, or just the start of the spiral into oblivion? If nothing else, the film serves as a roadmap to hip hip culture, with over fifty well known players involved. You’ll see Ice-T, Salt & Pepa, Queen Latifah, and numerous others, in roles that range from minor characters to mere cameos. Who’s the Man? plays like a slapstick comedy and works well enough on that basis, but it also injects some social commentary into the mix, without getting preachy about its messages. The more you like hip-hop, the more you will like this movie, but even if you hate rap music, there’s a lot to like here. Some of the jokes are inside gags about hip-hop, but the humor is often broad and universal. So while not a top level picture, Who’s the Man? is worth a look to fans of slapstick comedies. New Line’s DVD has minimal supplements however, so unless you’re a diehard fan, a rental should suffice.
Video: How does it look?
Who’s the Man? is presented in 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen, with a full frame version also included on this release. This is a better treatment than previous home video editions, but even New Line was limited in this case. The film was made on a low budget, which shows at times, but the image is more than watchable. I found the print to be clean, though some grain and debris do come in and lessen the visuals. Even so, detail remains high and the image has decent depth, though not the high level of visual performance New Line is known to produce. No worries with colors, as hues look bright enough and contrast is smooth too, so black levels are spot on. Not the best transfer out there, but the material is well handled.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie is all about verbal humor, so the included Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack isn’t all that memorable. The rap music adds some kick to the experience, with deep bass and some surround presence. But outside of the music, don’t hold out for much audio dynamite, as this is a low key and laid back track. The sound effects remain bolstered in the front channels for the most part, but that works well in this mix. A few scenes have added depth, thanks to more active surround channels, but not that often. The dialogue is flawless in this option, with no muffled vocals or volume imbalances to discuss. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround soundtrack, as well as English subtitles, should you need those options.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
