By Robert Scucci
| Published 9 seconds ago
Back in the 90s, filmmakers could make one-off superhero movies that were not based on already existing intellectual properties. Now that we are well past the superhero boom that the MCU kicked off in 2008, and with the best days of that franchise arguably behind us, I find myself looking back at the strange oddities that existed before tights and flights dominated the cinemascape. That curiosity has led me to hidden gems like 2009’s Defendor and, more recently, 1994’s Blankman, written by and starring Damon Wayans.
While Blankman is profoundly stupid, comparatively low budget when stacked against modern superhero counterparts, and wildly inconsistent with its humor and sentimentality, at least it is original. It is not a great film by any measurable metric, but it is still fun, clever, and oddly heartfelt at times. It serves as a reminder that not every superhero movie needs to be engineered by committee, even if the result ends up failing loudly on its own terms.
“But What If He Shot You In The Face?”
Blankman tells the story of two brothers, Darryl (Damon Wayans) and Kevin Walker (David Alan Grier). Darryl, the younger of the two, is a technological genius turned inventor who makes a living working as a repairman. He is also stuck in a state of arrested development, often viewing the world through a childlike lens. Kevin is more cynical and far more concerned with regular adult responsibilities, like working as a cameraman for the local news and pursuing a romantic relationship with his close friend and colleague, news anchor Kimberly Jonz (Robin Givens).
When their grandmother is killed by mobster Michael “The Suit” Minelli (Jon Polito) while attending a town hall meeting held by local politician Marvin Harris (Christopher Lawford), it becomes a massive wake-up call for Darryl. Until that moment, he had been blissfully unaware of the corruption and urban decay surrounding him. Determined to clean up the streets, Darryl, with the help of his homemade robot J-5, develops bulletproof clothing and adopts the identity of Blankman.
Running around Chicago in red long johns and a tool belt, Blankman gets shot at a lot, but the bullets conveniently strike him everywhere except the face, which would presumably be his only real weakness. With no superpowers, terrible hand-eye coordination, and a complete inability to read social cues, Darryl still manages to gain Kimberly’s affection after arranging a news interview with her. This understandably infuriates Kevin and pushes him to step in, reluctantly embracing his brother’s bizarre brand of vigilante justice.
After a series of increasingly unfortunate incidents forces Blankman underground, Darryl’s confidence takes a hit, though his spirit never fully breaks. He eventually realizes that the crime wave engulfing Chicago is not something he can handle alone, leading him to recruit Kevin by dressing him in an equally ridiculous costume and naming him Other Guy.
Profoundly Idiotic In Every Conceivable Way
If you are not a fan of Damon Wayans’ over-the-top physical comedy, Blankman may be a tough sell, even with its off-kilter charm. I am conflicted in my assessment because Wayans clearly tried to do something different and failed spectacularly in the process. Drawing inspiration from the 1960s iteration of Batman that he grew up watching, the film channels that campy spirit while layering it with the raunchy, manic energy Wayans is best known for.
The result is a collection of some of the silliest fight sequences you will ever see, paired with genuinely inventive gadgets cobbled together from household appliances. If Adam West’s Batman can keep Shark Repellent in his utility belt, there is no reason Blankman cannot use a grappling hook powered by a hand mixer. It is all incredibly stupid, but within this specific context, it works, even when the film itself struggles to hold together.
If you are exhausted by the current slate of superhero movies and want something far less self-serious, Blankman is at least worth a look. A commercial flop that earned just under $8 million against a reported $30 million production budget, Blankman was savaged by critics and currently sits at a brutal 12 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes. While an undeniable misfire on Wayans’ part, audiences eventually warmed to it through home video, cementing its reputation as a cult classic with real charm, provided you approach it like a B movie that just happens to have proper studio backing.
Blankman is currently streaming for free on Tubi.
