merklekranz
Weak boxing comedy with mostly caricatures rather than characters, The film comes across more like an idea for a script, with the actors just trying to make it funny. Unfortunately the talent of Samuel L Jackson, John Lovitz, Jeff Goldblum, and Damon Wayans is mostly wasted. This definitely is not a "black comedy", although there are plenty of misfiring "Black" jokes. As for the spectacle heavyweight fight, it is almost a non event, and the buildup not much better. I maybe chuckled twice, and most of the attempts at humor seem forced. Also, there are several scenes that are interminable, and lose any comedic impact they might have had. In short, "The Great White Hype" was a huge disappointment as a comedy and as a boxing movie. - MERK
AlabamaWorley1971
There's something in this movie to offend EVERYBODY: those of African descent, those of Jewish descent, those of dumb white guy descent, fight fans, music fans, you name it! Its saving grace is that it's so damn funny. Sam Jackson has WAY too much fun as the Don King-like boxing promoter who engineers a championship match for his fighter, played by Damon Wayans. (No, Damon doesn't exactly look like a heavyweight, but he's not meant to.) Jamie Foxx is hilarious as the frantic manager of a legitimate heavyweight contender passed over for Peter Berg's dim bulb. Rocky Carroll -- who's so serious on the excellent THE AGENCY -- here shows his comedy chops. I love this movie! (8 out of 10)
George Parker
"The Great White Hype" is a wacky, raucous, and mediocre comedy which pokes fun at what is doubtless pound-for-pound America's most corrupt sport. The film shows the connection between hype and the Pay Per View take in a major boxing event. However, it fails to carve out the players' real personas with sufficient clarity to make the film good satire and deliver a KO blow to the sports bad guys while giving the good guys a spot. A lukewarm watch for the public at large, "...Hype" will be most enjoyed by boxing fans.
Tiger_Mark
I have to admit that when I rented this movie, I was expecting a dumb comedy that would fail to show the reality of boxing. However, this film is a very funny film that also has a rather keen insight into the current state of boxing. Samuel L. Jackson plays a "Don King" type guy that is stuck with the problem of having a champ that might be too good. No one wants to pay to see the guy, because there are no quality fighters out there to challenge him. So, Jackson goes about creating a contender for the champ. What is the one thing you need to get people in the arena to watch? Well, a white challenger of course, experience not necessary. Surely many white Americans will pay to see one of their own knock down the overly cocky, black champ. Berg plays the "Great White Hope." The beauty of this film is the comedic way that it shows the real life corruption in boxing today. Fights are fixed, promotions are staged and very rarely do you have the best fighting the best. Moreover, we as viewers fall into the same trap that boxing fans do. Here you have an unqualified contender, that has no prayer of beating the champ. However, as we see the hype done by these snake oil salesmen, we start to believe that Berg's character actually has a chance to win. If you are a boxing fan, you will love this film, because it is real. Even if you are not a boxing fan, you will enjoy it. Very funny film and great acting performances. Believe the hype!
AD
