There have been funny male stripper movies (The Full Monty), auteur-directed male stripper movies (Magic Mike), Black male stripper movies (three Chocolate City films). Now comes Back on the Strip, yet another attempt to wrest humor and drama from the spectacle of scantily clad men gyrating to audiences of wildly appreciative women. The independent film receiving a wide release definitely leans toward the funnier end of the spectrum, with its overqualified cast including many formidable comedic talents. But despite some amusing moments, it never really takes off, burdened by a tiresome romantic subplot that periodically stops the movie dead in its tracks.
The story revolves around Merlin (Spence Moore II), whose name stems from his lifelong desire to pursue a career as a magician. His supportive single mother Verna (Tiffany Haddish), who narrates the proceedings, encourages him in his dreams and roots for him when he makes an appearance at a local talent contest.
The story revolves around Merlin (Spence Moore II), whose name stems from his lifelong desire to pursue a career as a magician. His supportive single mother Verna (Tiffany Haddish), who narrates the proceedings, encourages him in his dreams and roots for him when he makes an appearance at a local talent contest.
- 8/18/2023
- by Frank Scheck
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
It would come as no surprise to learn that “Back on the Strip” started out as a “Magic Mike” parody. I’m not saying that it did. But what else could explain the bizarrely literal premise of an ensemble indie comedy in which our hero is a wannabe magician who heads to Vegas hoping to be the next David Copperfield, only to wind up shaking his wand for a Chippendales-style male dance revue instead?
What makes “Strip” so consistently funny for most of its too-long two-hour running time isn’t Merlin’s lame prestidigi-dream (that part feels like co-writers Chris Spencer and Eric Daniel have been watching too many Nickelodeon movies) but the sorry state of his fellow dancers: a has-been crew called the Chocolate Chips. That fairly original hook allowed the filmmakers to round up an A-list lineup for this C-grade endeavor. The movie features everyone from Tiffany Haddish...
What makes “Strip” so consistently funny for most of its too-long two-hour running time isn’t Merlin’s lame prestidigi-dream (that part feels like co-writers Chris Spencer and Eric Daniel have been watching too many Nickelodeon movies) but the sorry state of his fellow dancers: a has-been crew called the Chocolate Chips. That fairly original hook allowed the filmmakers to round up an A-list lineup for this C-grade endeavor. The movie features everyone from Tiffany Haddish...
- 8/18/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Elie Samaha, Missy Valdez, Geno Taylor and Daniel Diamond’s newly launched Luminosity Entertainment have set their first movie, the comedy Back on the Strip, starring Wesley Snipes and Tiffany Haddish.
Luminosity will finance, produce and distribute feature films theatrically in the U.S. and handle foreign sales.
Back on the Strip reps the theatrical directorial debut of Chris Spencer, the creator and EP of Real Husbands of Hollywood and EP and scribe of Grown-ish. It follows a young man, Merlin (Spence Moore II), who moves to Las Vegas to pursue his dream of becoming a magician after losing the woman of his dreams. But when a costume malfunction reveals his physical “gifts,” he is recruited to become the frontman of an infamous male revue group. The comedy chronicles a series of escapades as Merlin tries to achieve magician success, pursuing his dream girl and finding family in the process.
Luminosity will finance, produce and distribute feature films theatrically in the U.S. and handle foreign sales.
Back on the Strip reps the theatrical directorial debut of Chris Spencer, the creator and EP of Real Husbands of Hollywood and EP and scribe of Grown-ish. It follows a young man, Merlin (Spence Moore II), who moves to Las Vegas to pursue his dream of becoming a magician after losing the woman of his dreams. But when a costume malfunction reveals his physical “gifts,” he is recruited to become the frontman of an infamous male revue group. The comedy chronicles a series of escapades as Merlin tries to achieve magician success, pursuing his dream girl and finding family in the process.
- 10/19/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
After years of directing primarily for TV (as well as producing the works of others), Reginald Hudlin is getting behind the camera again as a feature film director, for an untitled Im Global comedy which he co-wrote with Chris Spencer and Eric Daniel, and will also produce through his Hudlin Entertainment production company. No specifics on story, casting or Eta on the project at this time. Hudlin's most recent behind the camera efforts include executive producing the 44th and 45th NAACP Image Awards, as well as Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," which was nominated for the Best Picture Academy Award last year. Deadline first reported the news.
- 9/11/2014
- by Tambay A. Obenson
- ShadowAndAct
Exclusive: Im Global’s Stuart Ford has been in Toronto selling out to the walls on The Secret In Their Eyes remake as Julia Roberts joined Chiwetel Ejiofor and Gwyneth Paltrow. Now, he’s just set up a new film here. They’ve set Reginald Hudlin to direct and produce an untitled comedy which he co-wrote, with CAA selling the domestic rights and Hudlin producing through his Hudlin Entertainment banner. Hudlin, fondly remembered for helming the sleeper hit House Party, most recently was Oscar nominated for producing the Quentin Tarantino-directed Django Unchained. Hudlin wrote the script with Chris Spencer (Real Husbands of Hollywood) and Eric Daniel. He separately wrote the graphic novel The Black Panther for Marvel Comics and exec produced the animated series, and he has directed episodes of TNT’s Murder in the First and the upcoming NBC shows Bad Judge and Marry Me, and the Fox sitcom Weird Loners.
- 9/11/2014
- by Mike Fleming Jr
- Deadline
Here's a Disney production we profiled back in April titled Let It Shine, that originated with screenwriter Eric Daniel, and was written by both Daniel and Don D. Scott (Barbershop). It will premiere tonight, 6/15 at 8pm Et/Pt on the Disney Channel. Let It Shine, described as a music-driven story for kids and families, stars Tyler James Williams (Everybody Hates Chris), recording artist Coco Jones, Trevor Jackson (Eureka), Brandon Mychal Smith, Courtney B. Vance and Dawn Lewis. Synopsis: Set in the world of hip-hop, rap and gospel music, the uplifting modern day story inspired by Cyrano de Bergerac, follows three teens who discover the importance...
- 6/15/2012
- by Vanessa Martinez
- ShadowAndAct
Get ready HollywoodLifers! Check out the “Guardian Angel” music video from the upcoming Disney Channel Original Movie “Let It Shine” premiering next Friday, June 15! Radio Disney will also be Planet Premiering the entire soundtrack this weekend, so you can check it all out June 9 at 4pmPT/7pmET. The new video is out and the film is on its way. But what should you really expect? Well it has a great mix of Hollywood Records’ Recording Artist Coco Jones’ beautiful and soulful voice, and Tyler James Williams from “Everybody Hates Chris” surprisingly good rapping skills. He is actually better than most rappers out today. The film follows a shy, talented musician who pens romantic hip-hop verses only to stand idly by as they're delivered to the girl of his dreams by a proxy, his best friend. The film was directed by Paul Hoen and written by Eric Daniel and Don D. Scott.
- 6/9/2012
- by Russ Weakland
- HollywoodLife
The 33rd Portland International Film Festival announces the Oregonian Audience Award winners. This year’s Festival wrapped up its 18 day run Sunday, February 28th after 195 total screenings at multiple theater locations in the downtown cultural district of Portland. This year’s Festival was attended by over 30,000 attendees and included 77 features and 39 shorts from over 40 countries.
Complete coverage of Piff 2010
Don’t forget to vote for the 8th Annual Tsr Movie Awards
Audience winners include Best Narrative Feature The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Sweden) and Best Documentary Feature The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (New Zealand). The winner of the Best New Director Award is Hernán A. Goldfrid with Music On Hold (Argentina).
This year’s Short Film Award goes to Portland filmmaker Kyle Bell with the film The Mouse That Soared.
This year’s Piff presenting sponsors include The Oregonian and Regal Cinemas Major sponsors include the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation,...
Complete coverage of Piff 2010
Don’t forget to vote for the 8th Annual Tsr Movie Awards
Audience winners include Best Narrative Feature The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Sweden) and Best Documentary Feature The Topp Twins: Untouchable Girls (New Zealand). The winner of the Best New Director Award is Hernán A. Goldfrid with Music On Hold (Argentina).
This year’s Short Film Award goes to Portland filmmaker Kyle Bell with the film The Mouse That Soared.
This year’s Piff presenting sponsors include The Oregonian and Regal Cinemas Major sponsors include the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation,...
- 3/1/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
The spoof genre keeps refusing to die, as hard as Aaron Seltzer and Jason Friedberg may try with their endless Date Movie-Disaster Movie-etc. series. But when it comes to spoofing the world of Tyler Perry, apparently even Friedberg and Seltzer aren't up for the job. For African-American Movie, described as "really funny send-up of the Tyler Perry set," a writer named Eric Daniel will be in charge. This week's Production Weekly mentions the project, with no other word on exactly who thought this movie was a good idea, or why Friedberg and Seltzer didn't think of it first. It's also unclear whether or not the screenwriter is this Eric Daniel, who has only directed two shorts and has just one writing credit to his name. Oh, and he was a Pa on the set of Do The Right Thing. Does that give him the credentials to parody black culture?...
- 3/2/2009
- cinemablend.com
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