Where to watch A Low Down Dirty Shame
2 Stars
A black detective becomes embroiled in a web of danger while searching for a fortune in missing drug money.During the course of his investigation, he encounters various old connections, ultimately confronting the criminal responsible for Shame’s expulsion from the force. He must also deal with two women, Angela, a beautiful old flame, and Peaches, his energetic but annoying sidekick.
In Living Color made stars of its cast members, and while it was at its zenith in 1994, no less than five movies featuring a “Color” alum hit the marquee during that 12-month span. Jim Carey became a bona fide box office draw; Damon Wayans and David Alan Grier top-lined Blankman, derived from a sketch on the show; and lastly, Keenen Ivory Wayans wrote and directed A Low Down Dirty Shame. ‘Shame’ is part homage to John Shaft and the Ilk, part romantic comedy, and partly an ode to John Woo’s ultraviolent pairings with action icon Chow Fun Fat. It takes on three genres and isn’t particularly successful in aping any of them.
The real shame in all this is that Ivory Wayans has the looks, physique, and charm to pull off a convincing action hero or romantic lead, and this movie isn’t the right vehicle to showcase any of these attributes. His follow-up project was the similarly ludicrous but less humorous (and entertaining) 1997 film Most Wanted. Shame also features one of the most annoying performances of the decade from Jada Pinkett Smith, who showed her acting chops in Jason’s Lyric in 1994 but comes off bratty and obnoxious as the secretary/sidekick to our hero.
Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Written by: Keenen Ivory Wayans
Starring: Keenen Ivory Wayans, Charles S. Dutton, Jada Pinkett Smith