Review: Dance Flick

A whole lot of Wayans want to poke fun at all those formulaic uplift films where high school kids dance to victory. Ghetto and Julliard; ebony and ivory. Damien Dante Wayans takes his turn directing his co-starring and co-writing kin: Kennan Ivory, Shawn, Marlon, Damien Dante, Damon Jr. and Craig. The catchall plot strings together weak sketches peppered with stale japes at TMZ-strata celebrities. Lurches in continuity occur with no detectable intent to mock Hollywood editing. The Wayanses parody genres on purpose, as seen in earlier films: “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka” (1988) and “Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood” (1996). “Dance Flick,” though, is less on message than their “Scary Movie” (2000), a take-off on the meta-generic “Scream” written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The Wayans recycle their own bits about pedestrians going airborne after they’re hit by cars, and quips about condoms lessening sensitivity. In “Scary Movie,” someone listening through a glory hole got a penis in one ear and out the other. In “Dance Flick,” a kisser’s tongue makes the same ear-to-ear traverse. Other jokes include an ugly girl named Uglisha (Yves Lola St. Vil, Rasputia in “Norbit”), a poster in the hallway of Musical High School that advises “Don’t Go To College Because It’s a Waste of Time,” a basketball team called Nappy Headed Hoes, an oil corporation logo with “Cheney” replacing “Chevron” and a soft drink deliveryman for “Crack Cola” (other characters drink plenty of Pepsi). The Wayans laugh freely at dysfunction in the African-American community. Targets include absent dads, abusive moms, morbid obesity and obsessions with street “respect.” But unlike the laugh track on “The Wayan Bros.” reruns on TV, laughter is rare in “Dance Flick” and its satire lacks bite. With Shoshana Bush, Essence Atkins, Affion Crockett, David Alan Grier and Amy Sedaris as Ms. Cameltoe. 83m. (Bill Stamets)