Black Dynamite

Episode 150: Black Dynamite (2009)

Theme: Non–Martial Arts Movies (That Have A LOT of Martial Arts)
Hosts: Oz & Curtis

This week, Oz and Curtis celebrate the sesquicentennial episode with Black Dynamite — the only movie that asks, “What if Superfly, Airplane!, The Last Dragon, and Threat Level Midnight were all thrown in a blender narrated by Dr. Seuss?” This spoof of black-exploitation films delivers Kung Fu, conspiracies, and more boom mics in frame than any production since 1974.

Join your two favorite jive-talking film scholars as they unpack:

How Michael Jai White was put on this Earth specifically to wear velvet suits, throw nunchucks, and scold people for calling him during Kung Fu practice.

Why every actor in the diner scene deserves an honorary doctorate in Conspiracy Board Studies.

The parade of villains — drug pushers, Dr. Wu, fiendish politicians, and eventually Richard Nixon — because this movie refuses to have fewer than 12 bad guys.

How Anaconda Malt Liquor’s “special ingredient” leads to one of the most unforgettable reveals in any comedy, ever.

The boomerang gag, the donut assassination attempt, and the emotional integrity of a man who only cries when shaking smack out of orphans.

From kung-fu orphans to Nixon nunchuck fights, from Cream Corn’s hair curlers to Kung Fu Island showdowns, Oz and Curtis break down a movie that’s outrageous, clever, endlessly quotable, and always one step ahead of your expectations.

Final Verdict

Oz — 7 cans of Cream Corn
Curtis — All the bottles of Anaconda Malt Liquor
Both — Still unsure why the entire cast knows advanced Greek and Roman mythology on command.