Common Sense Media Review
By Brian Costello
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, smart action comedy has strong violence, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
They Cloned Tyrone
What's the Story?
In THEY CLONED TYRONE, Fontaine (John Boyega) is a drug dealer in a down-and-out neighborhood known as The Glen. After going to a cheap motel to get the money owed to him by a pimp named Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), Fontaine is shot and killed in his car in the motel parking lot. However, the next day, Fontaine is back at home and going through his routine as if nothing happened. Later that evening, Fontaine returns to see Slick Charles in the same motel, and Slick Charles doesn't understand how Fontaine could possibly still be alive. With the help of sex worker and Nancy Drew enthusiast Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris), the three seek to find out what's going on in their neighborhood, an adventure that leads them to a mysterious lab hidden below a trap house and to the neighborhood fast-food chicken joint, where the food seems to be making everyone laugh hysterically. Soon, the three uncover a conspiracy that involves The Glen, one that explains why Fontaine is still alive, and why the neighborhood is not what it seems.
Is It Any Good?
This is a thoughtful and hilarious, if raw and at times profane, sci-fi mystery comedy. They Cloned Tyrone is like a combination of a blaxploitation movie with a Black Mirror episode, with the style and humor of the former and the technological dread of the latter. What emerges in the story is a comment on institutional racism in the United States, and what some in power gain or seek to gain by maintaining a status quo rooted in inequality.
It's a creative take on the "unlikely characters faced with a mystery to solve" movie, and They Cloned Tyrone makes full use of the comedic possibilities of this kind of story, while also taking from the best aspects of the various genres it explores. The acting is excellent throughout, and it's fun seeing how the three main characters play off of the extremes of each other's personalities. The abundant humor helps make the movie's heavier messages easier to digest but in no way weakens what the movie is saying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the deeper messages in They Cloned Tyrone. What commentary is the movie making about institutional racism and race in the United States?
How does the movie use genres like blaxploitation, science fiction, and mystery to convey deeper messages?
Was the content too edgy, or was it necessary for the sake of comedy and for the story and characters? Why?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 21, 2023
- Cast : Jamie Foxx , John Boyega , Teyonah Parris
- Director : Juel Taylor
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Black Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 122 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : Pervasive language, violence, some sexual material and drug use.
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : August 22, 2024
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate