REVIEW: THEY CLONED TYRONE

4/5

Attack Of The Block Of Clones. 

119 Mins. Starring: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris & Jamie Foxx. Director: Juel Taylor. On: Netflix. 

Thank God Jamie Foxx is on the mend. After months of concern, coupled with stupid social media speculation, the actor/singer/comedian took to Instagram this weekend ahead of his executive produced new Netflix movie debuting on the streaming service. Explaining why he's been missing in action these last few months due to an illness that remains a mystery and frankly, his and his family's business and not ours. We just hope he will be OK. Ever funny, but also expressing emotion, Jamie thanked all the fans that had his back these last few months and of course his daughter and family who saved his life. Not to mention the medical team and the grace of God that did so too and kept him fighting. Now after "going through hell", he's on his "way back". He just didn't want us to see him suffering, connected to tubes. He wanted us to watch him crack jokes, sing songs and make movies. What he does best. Like this. One of the stupidest rumours that he refuted with his trademark hilarity, pulling off the 'Mission: Impossible' mask, was that he was a clone? For real?! Well of course that's baloney like a sandwich, but it is the subject of the science-fiction comedy movie he co-stars in with 'Star Wars' and Marvel stars John Boyega and Teyonah Parris. You can see why some people get confused in a day and social media age where some think Steven Spielberg actually hunted, killed and posed for a photo with a triceratops. Following his Netflix deal of 'Project Power' and his golden era good time's sitcom 'Dad Stop Embarrassing Me' comes 'They Cloned Tyrone'. TYRONE PEOPLE! Tyrone. 

The awakening force of Finn himself John Boyega ('The Woman King', 'Detroit', Netflix's very own 'Imperial Dreams') heads this big-three in a madcap movie that feels like Jordan Peele's 'Get Out' meets Boyega's own breakout sci-fi movie 'Attack The Block' from his British streets. Offset by the grain of a signature seventies soul aesthetic that takes you back into time until Bitcoin is dropped like everybody's stock in that investment. With 'Stranger Things' happening in this neighbourhood, even though this type of cult fiction and satirical look at the exploitation of black bodies has been done before, this is still one of the freshest movies from Netflix for your Rotten Tomatoes. Especially when for all the big names (there's a classic cameo here from their Hollywood black book) on the streamer, a lot of their big budgets go splat after the first week. Netflix are cutting down on how many people can use others accounts (hey, some of us have big families), but they already may be losing subscribers before this process. It's content like this however, that will keep people on the 'Continue Watching' tip. Don't sleep. You and yours can chill later. Great action, hilarity and heart and points sharper than the shrapnel from a hollow one. There's not many like this movie.

Attacking his first feature film debut with abandon, all the way down to the amazing artwork and blaxploitation theatrical theme, director Juel Taylor is a true jewel with this crowning achievement. Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier script it all perfectly too. Flipping clichés and tropes both cultural and in the genre itself. Taking cues from everything from 'Napoleon Dynamite' to 'Groundhog Day' with helpings of humour, horror and homage, Taylor was made a movie that stands out from a crowd of clones. There's a government conspiracy going on...and this is one you can believe in. Don't adjust your tin hat. A drug dealer, a sex worker and a pimp walk into an underground lab straight out of Hawkins and the punchline is perfect. With more twists to turn your stomach and enough surprises to give this sleeper of a summer hit much spring in its step, get ready for something different. All in classic elevator moments like Foxx's 'Baby Driver' of gold flexing style. Bringing you right back down to the opposite spectrum Prince sang about with the grounding, groundbreaking themes explore in this tale. Not to mention utterly heartbreaking moments of hurt and pure emotion, even amongst all the comic-relief, reminding us of how much a trap this really can be. 

Great Brit and 'Breaking' and 'Pacific Rim: Uprising' star John Boyega gives us one of his best amongst all the 'Naked Singularity' and 'The Circle' on Netflix. It feels like his career is only just beginning, but he's completed a Star Wars trilogy, AND spoke out and risked it all in protects during a Black Lives Matter march, moving millions. Just like his mentoring co-star Harrison Ford (who also has 'Blade Runner' and 'Indiana Jones' under his whip, not to mention, countless classics other than his Solo project), he refuses to be boxed in to typecast. And even if his character isn't feeling his sel(ves) here, what he does here with his powerful performance speaks volumes in subtle nuance. We've been in awe of the talent of Teyonah Parris since her "unbow your head sister" line in 'Moonlight' director Barry Jenkins' magnificent adaptation of James Baldwin's 'If Beale Street Could Talk'. And after having her superhero breakout moment in 'WandaVision', she's set to star in another big-three with 'The Marvels' this fall. But here in this 'Candyman' like horror, the 'Dear White People' and 'Chi-Raq' star takes a saluting scene-stealing stand. And then there's Foxx, who you can't put in a hole, let alone box too. Jamie is crazy talented. The 'Ray' Oscar-winner and Tarantino 'Django Unchained' star always has been. And now following his Netflix undead 'Day Shift' last year (we can't wait for a stand-up special that could reveal even more than Chris Rock's 'Selective Outrage') he truly slaps as a pimpin' classic character with legendary lines. With the best Tyrone since Biggum, these clone wars could never be duplicated. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Get Out', 'The Cabin In The Woods', 'Attack The Block'.