Blankman
Nerdy inventor fights crime; cartoonish violence, cursing.
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Blankman
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Blankman is a comedy that mimics the 1960s campy television portrayals of Batman as remembered by two brothers who are now adults and battling crime in their neighborhood. Language includes "s--t" and "bitch." Violence is generally bloodless and played for comedy. Like an episode from the 1960s campy Batman TV series, fights are punctuated by cartoon overtitles saying "blam" and "thud!" A man, a virgin, and woman kiss, but apart from that all sexual references fall into the category of middle-school silliness, citing "balls," "testicles," and the display of a Rorschach test line drawing of a woman's breasts. A woman in labor pain grabs a man's crotch in the belief that she's squeezing his finger. References are made to new superheroes "Midgetman" and "Gayman."
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What's the Story?
BLANKMAN starts with backstory -- how a kid from a tough neighborhood grows up to be the title's vigilante hero. Grandma (Lynne Thigpen) tells big brother Kevin to be nice to his odd younger sibling, and niceness is clearly the guiding principle of the boys' lives. When Darryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin (David Alan Grier) grow up, they admire their grandma's political activism and are devastated when organized crime boss Minelli (Jon Polito) guns her down to send a message to the progressive candidate she's working for. Dressed in pajamas dipped in a homemade bulletproofing solution and a tube sock mask, Blankman starts rescuing those in need. He storms a bank while a Minelli-led heist is in progress, barely escaping the explosion that kills the city's new mayor (Christopher Lawford). Can Blankman save the day?
Is It Any Good?
The overriding sentiments in this movie are sweetness and decency, perfectly embodied in lead actors Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier, two towering comic talents who clearly understand drama well. The comedy in Blankman is goofy and juvenile, but the undercurrent reminds us that honoring family is important, that we each owe our community a commitment to make things better, and that even the seemingly oddest and weakest among us can muster the courage to make a difference. These lofty goals, far from ruling out raunchy humor, actually counterbalance places where Wayans, a co-screenwriter, goes out on a limb. We may roll our eyes when the way water drains from a large tank makes it look as if the two men trapped inside are peeing, but the message remains primary, that even the least likely among us have heroics within. Kids may ignore the sexual innuendo, but they'll enjoy the goofiness.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Blankman's theme of one person can making a difference. Do you believe that we can effect change for the good doing small things on our own? What are some ways kids can help their communities?
Darryl has an instinct to help people in need. How do you think parents and schools can develop that desire in kids?
How does the movie establish that the bad guys are cartoonish? What are some signals that even though they have guns and bombs and knives, they aren't meant to be terribly scary?
Movie Details
- In theaters: August 19, 1994
- On DVD or streaming: July 1, 2020
- Cast: Damon Wayans, David Alan Grier, Robin Givens, Jon Polito, Lynne Thigpen, Christopher Lawford
- Director: Mike Binder
- Studio: Sony Pictures
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: for off-color humor
- Last updated: March 2, 2023
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For kids who love goofy tales
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