Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
White Chicks
By Nell Minow,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Predictable farce isn't very funny or original.
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
White Chicks
Community Reviews
Based on 25 parent reviews
LOL This IS a funny (Mature) film!
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.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
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?
Movie Details
- In theaters: June 25, 2004
- On DVD or streaming: October 26, 2004
- Cast: Jaime King , Marlon Wayans , Shawn Wayans
- Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans
- Inclusion Information: Black directors, Female actors, Black actors
- Studio: Columbia Tristar
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: crude and sexual humor, language and some drug content
- Last updated: February 17, 2023
Inclusion information powered by
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 suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
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