Often touted as the "king of underground comedy," Katt Williams ("The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1") is no stranger to breaking a sweat for his career. In "American Hustle," the comedian mixes confidence with endearing self-deprecation to deliver a portrayal of a modern-day success story.
Yes, the film opens in a sprawling, gold-speckled mansion with high ceilings and marble floors, but you'd be mistaken if you assumed Williams' story was about living the good life. Instead, we find the comedian bugging out over a business meeting he has later that day with Hollywood power suits. Like any other showbiz player on the verge of breakout success, he knows you gotta work it to stay on top. Jeremy Piven - in a spectacular cameo that has him in full "Entourage" mode - does his part by delivering a rapid-fire pep talk, but it's not enough to unleash Williams' "inner pimp."
The meeting goes disastrously, albeit with sly commentary on big-shot producers who try too hard to be down. Williams is pitched everything from a March of the Penguins-meets-Brokeback
Mountain epic to an Eddie Murphy-esque stinker and rightfully hightails it out of the room. It's here when "American Hustle" hits its stride, going from Hollywood outsider story to amusing road flick, Rick James singalongs and all. The Blues Brothers may have been on a mission from God, but Katt Williams' journey is intensely self-driven.
Rounding up his motley crew of fellow comics (Red Grant, Melanie Comarcho, and Luenell), Williams drives his souped-up Katt-a-Lac to gigs in Las Vegas, Shreveport, and Houston in an attempt to get back at his stand-up roots. Interwoven in this storyline are clips depicting the eager folks in Chi-Town, where the comedian is scheduled to make his final stop. "Katt, where are you?" the masses cry, as though anticipating the return of the Messiah. We get a sense that Williams is a man of the people, and it is precisely this extraordinary everyman quality that makes the film's raunchier bits (including riffs on female genitalia and the art of oral sex) work.
Aside from being accessible, Williams also appears to be quite generous, as much of the movie is preoccupied with showcasing his foul-mouthed friends' comedic skills. In one hilarious bit, Comarcho offers her critique on "Flavor of Love," declaring it a marker for how sad the single-lady game has gotten. Though continuous footage of Williams' compatriots becomes tired fast, it serves as good build-up for when the man himself takes the stage.
Making his entrance to the dramatic beat of Rick Ross' "Hustlin',"
Williams is at his best when cracking on male-female dynamics and the sorry state of "bitch niggas," but veers into cliché territory when taking jabs at subjects as exhausted as Michael Jackson and Michael Richards.
Still, the act holds up because Williams is not inherently mean-spirited, but straightforward and unpretentious, often addressing his audience as pals and offering wise words about "tak[ing] care of your own shit" in this madcap world. As multi-talented as he is insightful, the comedian drives the message home with a rousing musical performance guest-starring Da Brat. ("American Hustle" also boasts appearances by Ludacris, Snoop Dogg, and Tamala Jones.) Katt Williams may be suffering for his art and hustlin' every day, but he sure makes it look good.
"Katt Williams: American Hustle" is released on DVD today, November 20th.
del.icio.us
digg
Furl
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Comments
No comments have been posted.