Bullet Points: Underclassman
Before I hit play on 2005’s Underclassman, I found myself debating if I really wanted to watch an action comedy or if I would be better served watching a straight up action movie, but I hit play and milliseconds later I did not regret my decision…
- Here We Go: …because that’s when “California Love” by Tupac Shakur kicked in as the Miramax logo appeared and the opening credits rolled… then that was followed up by a chase scene that involved a box truck filled with stolen merchandise some cops on bikes (Pac Blue style) and eventually our undercover hero, Tre Stokes (Nick Cannon) on an ATV chasing down the baddies, forcing the truck to flip and then arresting the culprits moments before the truck exploded! You have my attention Underclassman.
- O Captain, My Captain: We come to find out that Tre is no undercover cop, he’s a bike cop and has been for the past four year. But Tre is a bike cop that dreams of one day being a detective like his father before him, hence his unauthorized undercover work. Tre’s boss, Captain Victor Delgado (Cheech Marin, Desperado), is not happy with Tre not following protocol and instead of reporting his findings to Detectives Brooks (Kelly Hu, Cradle 2 the Grave) and Gallecki (Ian Gomez, Excessive Force), Tre went maverick on him. Fortunately for Tre, Captain Delgado has a soft spot for him, since he was friends with Tre’s father.
- Opportunity Knocks: As luck would have it Warren Williams, a high school student at the affluent Westbury School has been found dead. Which is obviously not lucky for Warren, but ends up being lucky for Tre. The Mayor of Los Angeles wants an undercover cop at Westbury School to investigate this mysterious murder to see what is going on…. mainly because the mayor’s kid goes to the school. There’s no denying the fresh faced Tre can pull off looking like a high schooler, so Captain Delgado reluctantly assigns the case to Tre.
- Fish Out of Water: Tre doesn’t have an easy first day at Newbury… getting on the wrong side of the kid he’s supposed to get close to, one Rob Donovan (Shawn Ashmore, X-Men) and his friends and even ending up in the Headmaster’s office before it is all said and done… but at least he has a really hot Spanish teacher. Things start turning around when Tre is able to help Rob’s streetball team defeat their crosstown rivals… Tre not only begins to break the ice, he also believes he may have found a possible murder suspect in the form of current Rob Donovan rival/former Newbury student who was kicked out for dealing drugs… but that ends up being a dead end and Tre is no closer to solving the Warren Williams murder than he was before he got to Newbury.
- To Catch a Thief: It is back to the drawing board for Tre and when he hears about a string of grand theft auto incidents involving the high end cars owned by the wealthy parents of Newbury students, his wheels start turning. Now the last time Warren was seen alive was outside a party, a party where an H2 was stolen, so Tre’s hunch is whoever is jacking the cars may also be responsible for offing Warren, especially if Warren saw something he shouldn’t have. So Tre hatches a plan to use Captain Delgado’s swanky home and Delgado’s 1966 Corvette Sting Ray as bait. Delgado agrees, but assigns Brooks and Gallecki as backup… however the entire plan goes to shit (literally for Gallecki and Brooks), when the Captain’s car is stolen and Tre realizes Rob and his boys are the thieves… but WHO are they working for?
- Good Morning, Miss Bliss: That question is answered in the big action finale that goes down at Long Beach Port. It turns out the Headmaster Felix Powers (Hugh Bonneville) was blackmailing Rob to steal the cars after Rob and his friends pulled a senior prank that went too far…if they want to go to college and not have their futures ruined, they have to steal cars for Powers. Powers trades the cars for a new party drug named Bliss, which he then distributes and makes his money. Powers’ illegal operation had been doing well… but that was before Tre Stokes showed up in Newbury.
Underclassman borrows elements from 21 Jump Street, Beverly Hills Cop and even a little Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . I don’t believe Underclassman will ever reach the legendary status of any of those properties, but it allowed Nick Cannon the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of other comedians who came before him and found their way to the world of action comedies. Nick Cannon is going to Nick Cannon whether it is Drumline or Underclassman or The Masked Singer… you know what you are getting so there is no chance of a surprise, either good or bad.
Underclassman was as advertised, Nick Cannon in an action comedy and he pulled it off. At no point did his character do anything so out there, like mowing down an entire drug cartel, that I couldn’t enjoy the ride.
Now how about enjoying these Bonus Bullet Points…
- If You Ever: …wanted to see Nick Cannon compete in a Sea-Doo race, then Underclassman is the movie for you.
- Can I Kick It?: In addition to Tupac, Underclassman features music from A Tribe Called Quest, Will.I.Am and The Black Eyed Peas. I was feeling the flow, I must admit.
- If You Ever: …wanted to see Nick Cannon play rugby, then Underclassman is the movie for you.
