Comedy 'Foolish' isn't all too funny

Giovanni's Club just wouldn't be the same without Foolish Waise. When Foolish steps on stage and grabs hold of the microphone, the crowd relaxes, smiles reappear, and hearty laughter emerges. Dave Meyers directs his first movie on solid ground, as "Foolish" has its moments of hilarity emanating from the naturally talented Eddie Griffin, who stars as "Foolish," a name given to him ever since he was a wee boy in the 'hood.

Although Foolish says "muthafucka," "white boy" and "ass" about every four seconds during his comedic routine, it's not all about homie lingo in this film. He also spews out some pretty bitchin' jokes, and makes some valid criticisms about the ludicrousness of American stereotypes and the absurdity of certain people's daily rituals.

Courtesy of Robert Isenberg 'Dice' Clay makes a "Foolish" cameo.

Foolish tells one story, for example, about a selfish "muthafucka" from his childhood who had stolen his toys. Years later, when he asks for a ticket to one of his stand-up shows, Foolish rejects him, saying, "Where's my G.I. Joe? Where's my Sit 'n' Spin?"

Frustratingly, the life of Foolish isn't all laughs. He wants to reach out to audiences, so long as everyone follows his rules. He won't listen to others telling him what to do - especially big-shot producers who think he's willing to cross-dress for a movie. "It's not about the money," he says.

Foolish only wants to have a good time.

While Foolish fights the hardships of making it big in the entertainment industry, he also has to deal with relationship and family issues. His brother, known as "Fifty Dollah," (rapper Master P) always has an advantage over him, being wealthier and managing to steal Foolish's ex-girlfriend away from him.

But Fifty also engages in some fairly shoddy business at a car dealership, a.k.a. undercover conglomeration of hard-core criminals. He, too, has to battle with the tensions of what's expected by him versus what he wants to be in society. Though his diamond-studded glasses, gold chains and fluorescent overcoats make the fashion statement he's looking for, dealing drugs and killing people isn't so cool.

"Foolish" has some pitfalls, however. Often, the audiences reaction to Foolish's jokes are not in sync with the degree of hilarity at that point, almost as though Meyers realized he had to add some extra shots in the scene to add variety, but the continuity didn't match up correctly.

As stubborn as Foolish is supposed to be, sometimes his grating character acts out in strange ways. When he lands an interview with a production company for a lead role in a movie, his comic timing is off and bitterness about the prospect of playing a cross-dresser goes a little astray.

Still, about half of "Foolish" consists of long stand-up bits, of which certain parts are very funny. Even so, the pacing of the film is strong enough to sustain entertainment even during the bland moments.

04-13-99