Parents' Guide to Undercover Brother 2

Movie R 2019 84 minutes
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Common Sense Media Review

Tom Cassidy By Tom Cassidy , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 15+

Blaxploitation satire sequel has profanity, violence, drugs.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 15+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

In UNDERCOVER BROTHER 2, "Superfly Superspy" (Michael Jai White) and his brother Lionel (Vince Swann) have both been in a coma since 2003. When Lionel is revived in 2019, he vows to live up to his brother's reputation and find their nemesis, "The Man" (Barry Bostwick) while navigating the many changes in society.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

Picking up from the 2002 original, it's hard to argue that Undercover Brother 2 is a great movie. However, it is willfully silly, often funny, and only very occasionally do the scattershot digs feel mean-spirited. The barbed script feels like it has something to say at times, with race at the forefront. But the heavy-handed delivery and mixed messages make it hard to fully get behind.

The hit rate for jokes is pleasingly high, and while it's no Airplane! or The Naked Gun, it surpasses the likes of 50 Shades of Black and Scary Movie 5 (the co-director of which, Malcolm D. Lee, helmed the original Undercover Brother).

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how satire is used in Undercover Brother 2. How can this type of humor be used to reflect society? What serious subjects does Undercover Brother 2 tackle with humor, and how effective is it?

  • Talk about how stereotypes are explored in the film. Do they ring true? What use do stereotypes have in storytelling? How can they be problematic?

  • Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it feel necessary? Did it add anything to the story?

  • Did the violence feel realistic in the movie? Why does violence in comedies feel different than in other movie genres?

Movie Details

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