White Chicks (PG-13, 2004)

common sense media says

Predictable farce isn't very funny or original.

parents & educators say

50% say sexual content is an issue
50% say language is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the parent advisories here refer to the more readily available unrated version and not the PG-13 movie seen in theaters. Because the central plot involves two African-American men disguised as white women there is much racial humor attempted, including innuendo, “black versus white” stereotyping, and slurs. Coarse, raunchy language is continuous, including numerous references to male and female genitalia, breasts, sexual promiscuity, and sexual acts. The women are vapid sexual objects throughout. They dress, dance, and behave in a provocative manner. Farts account for many of the plot turns and much of the hoped-for comedy in the movie.

Positive messages: The message here seems to be that people are so stupid that they’ll fall for anything. Women are shallow, empty-headed, and self-involved; Men are only slightly better. Even the most ridiculous plan can unwittingly succeed if the motivation is pure. One flimsy attempt is made to teach a woman to stand up for herself when a man manipulates her.

Positive role models: Conceived as a parody, the filmmakers have taken stereotyping to new heights. With the exception of one journalist, who is only mildly ignorant, the women are portrayed as overwrought, jealous, sexually manipulated, incredibly stupid victims. A male athlete is depicted as arrogant, ignorant, aggressive, and a sexual predator. The FBI agents are all buffoons. The two heroes have admirable motives, but very limited brain power.

Violence: Cartoon-style violence with no injuries or deaths: fist fights, two shoot-outs with guns, a dog in danger as it dangles from a car window, a dog attack, and a final brawl.

Sex: No actual sexual activity, but frequent sexual innuendo, gross language, sexy dancing and leering, raunchy attempts at humor (licking, sniffing panties, and more). Women and girls appear in tight, clingy, sexually revealing attire throughout. Numerous shots of plastic body parts, including breasts, and one extended scene devoted to a group of women experimenting with a rubber penis.

Language: In the Unrated version, no coarse or vulgar expressions are left out and the sheer quantity of sexual references is daunting. Some examples: “bitch fit,” “ass,” “balls” “coke whore,” “vagina,” “booty call,” “s--t,” “go down on,” “genital herpes,” and many, many more. Racial slurs, including the “N” word appear often. Farts are used as plot devices in many scenes and range from uncouth to overwhelming.

Consumerism: Louis Vuitton luggage, Midol, Perrier, Kool-Aid; a convenience store features M & M’s, Nestea.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking: People drink at a party, in a club. Two men are shown drowning their sorrows with beer. A pill for sexual arousal is used to move the plot.

Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

Families can talk about what Kevin and Marcus learn from pretending to be white women. Why was it so hard for Karen, Lisa, and Gina to feel good about themselves and their relationships?
Families can also talk about stereotypes and humor. Did this movie do a good job of making fun of people that stereotype or did it perpetuate stereotypes? Or a little of both?
There's a lot of sexual humor in this movie. Was any of it funny or just raunchy? Or a little of both?

What's the story?

In WHITE CHICKS, Shawn and Marlon Wayans play FBI agents Kevin and Marcus Copeland. After they bungle a drug bust, they are assigned to protect the Wilson sisters from a kidnapper. The sisters are heading to the Hamptons where they hope to be photographed for a magazine cover. A minor car accident on the way there leaves them with scratches on their faces and they refuse to be seen that way. So, the Copelands call in the FBI's crackerjack undercover makeup team to transform them into the Wilsons. Despite the fact that they are taller than the girls and the latex masks applied to their faces make them look like victims of Botox overkill, no one in the Hamptons seems to notice anything significantly different about "the girls." The Copelands shop, participate in a fashion show and a dance-off, and go out on dates, Marcus (in drag) with a smitten athlete (Terry Crews) and Kevin (as a man but pretending to be someone else to impress a pretty reporter).

Is it any good?

Appealing performers and a couple of funny moments don't make up for a lazy and generic script in this predictable farce. This movie borrows characters and plots from many other movies. And White Chicks doesn't pay attention to its plot -- but sloppy inconsistencies like the ones here become a distraction that interferes with the ability of the audience to enjoy even the jokes that work.

Gender- and race-switching are inherently funny but the situations and jokes do very little to build on that energy and sometimes actually get in the way. There are predictable culture clashes, and predictable life lessons as the Copelands develop more empathy for women and encourage the society girls to have more self-respect. But the lessons are delivered with no more enthusiasm or sincerity than the jokes.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Studio: Columbia Tristar
Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Cast: Jaime King, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 100 minutes
Theatrical release: June 25, 2004
DVD release: October 26, 2004
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: crude and sexual humor, language and some drug content

This review was written by Nell Minow

Review It

What parents & educators say

Based on 10 parent & educator reviews:

50% say sexual content is an issue
50% say language is an issue

Read the reviews

Most useful reviews by all members

hhhhhhhhhhhh
adult

the best movie ever with a little innopropriate stuff. but other than that best movie ever

What other families should know

Movie Details

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Genre

White Chicks (PG-13, 2004)

common sense media says

parents & educators say

What parents need to know

More on White Chicks

What to talk about

Talk to your kids

What's the story?

What's the story?

Is it any good?

Is it any good?

Movie themes & details

Movie Details

Review It

Review White Chicks

What parents & educators say

Most useful reviews by all members

Funny Movie!

The funniest wayans brothers comedy

For mature kids, not below the age of 8

Funny for Teens and up!

awesome!

What the heck is going on here?

Awesome but 12 and up

White Chicks

White Chicks

funny

Great for Kids, But More So For Families

Hilarious and Creative

This should be rated R!

Better for older teens

GIVE THE PEOPLE A CHANCE WILL YA

Pretty good

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