“FOXY BROWN” (1974)

Starring: Pam Grier, Antonio Fargas & Sid Haig
Written & Directed by Jack Hill

Poly Staffle Rating: ****

There truly isn't an actress working in films today like Pam Grier. As the title role in "Foxy Brown," Grier is able to single-handedly transform a lame action film into something that is not only watchable, but a lot of fun. As Foxy, Grier is, as the title theme says, "super bad." She is a strong independent woman that is sexy, glamorous, funny and able to escape any situation. Foxy Brown is “McGuyver,” “The A-Team” and “Charlie's Angels” all rolled into one package.

Thanks to Grier, this movie works. Grier is able to transcend a trashy script filled with racism, sleaze and dozens of cheesy lines like "I've got my black belt in barstools" and make it something more than blaxpoitation cinema. Foxy dresses as a call girl, watches as a gang castrates a man, escapes two hillbilly rapists by reaching a razor blade with her mouth and fights her way out of a bar full of angry lesbians. Grier somehow comes off as being empowered, as opposed to exploited. We care for Foxy even though she shows little emotion for the deaths of loved ones around her. We root for her even though we know there isn't a situation she can't get out of. Most of all, we are entertained. No actress since has had that power.

Angelina Jolie couldn't do it with a far bigger budget in "Tomb Raider." I couldn't even finish that movie and thirty years later, I doubt it will even be as good as it is now. I could rattle off a long list of actresses like Anna Nicole Smith in "Skyscraper" and Pamela Anderson in "Barb Wire" that have tried and failed. You can't just throw any actress or any bimbo in any action film and expect good results.

Sure, Grier has some help. Jack Hill wrote and directed this film. He has a long string of credits from "Spider Baby" to "The Big Doll House" to "Switchblade Sisters." Hill regular Sid Haig is on board and actor Antonio Fargas is also here. Haig is of course the character actor that has found a new audience since playing Captain Spaulding in "House of 1,000 Corpses," while Fargas is best known as Huggy Bear on the television series "Starsky and Hutch."

The film is also a time capsule for 1974 with everyone wearing goofy clothes and saying outdated slang. "Foxy Brown" is filled with dialogue gems like, "That's my sister and she's a whole lotta woman," and "You handle the justice, I’ll take care of the revenge myself." Whites freely use the n-word and call African Americans “spooks.” Foxy calls someone a “cripple,” says vigilante justice “is as American as apple pie” and spits lines like, “You pink-ass corrupt honky judge, take your little wet noodle outta here.” There are also other treats that you may find yourself chuckling at like gangsters driving a station wagon and ketchup for blood special effects. The action also seems so staged and choreographed that when something happens, it's as if everyone is waiting for it to take place. Some scenes felt like the actors would say they were going to do an action, then do it and of course pat themselves on the back afterward. I admit all these things add to the film's overall entertainment value, but without Grier, this movie collapses and “Foxy Brown” disappears like Kristanna Loken's "Bloodrayne."

The closest female action star to Grier, I can think of is Uma Thurman in the "Kill Bill" saga. Thurman doesn't compeletly pull off sexy in the role and without her, there is still a reason to watch. Replace her with Halle Berry and "Kill Bill" still works. It has a great script and amazing direction. Maybe it's not as good without Thurman, but it still works. There's also Kate Bekinsale in "Underworld." Replace Bekinsale with Halle Berry, you kill that movie. But the film is already hanging on for dear life and there are a number of actresses that could tackle that role and make it better. Replace Grier and there is no reason to watch "Foxy Brown."

Funny I mentioned Halle Berry because she is the planned actress to play this role in a remake. I guess somebody, somewhere liked "Catwoman" and thought Berry would be good as Foxy. Scratch that, they thought she would be a good spokeswoman to promote a lame action movie. It's not going to fly and I doubt it will even sell many tickets. So who do you get to play the role? You don't. You either bring Pam Grier back and catch up with Foxy in her 50’s or do the smart thing and leave a classic film like this alone. There's no actress like Pam Grier. I'm sure the remake will just add an exclamation point to my thinking.