''Foolish'' is a 1999

comedy drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

directed by Dave Meyers (in his directoral debut), and starring

Master P Percy Robert Miller (born April 29, 1967), better known by his stage name Master P, is an American rapper, record producer, record executive, dancer, actor and entrepreneur. He founded the record label No Limit Records in 1991, which was relau ...

and Eddie Griffin. It was No Limit Films second theatrical release after ''

I Got the Hook-Up ''I Got the Hook-Up'' is a 1998 American crime comedy film, starring Anthony Johnson, Master P, Ice Cube, C-Murder and directed by Michael Martin. This was No Limit Records' first theatrical release. The film was distributed by Dimension Film ...

''.

Plot

Quentin "Fifty Dollah" Waise (

) is involved in a crime ring that earns him good money but worries his grandmother Odetta (

Marla Gibbs Marla Gibbs (born Margaret Theresa Bradley; June 14, 1931) is an American actress, singer, comedian, writer, and television producer whose career spans seven decades. She is known for her role as George Jefferson's maid, Florence Johnston, on th ...

), who dotes on him and encourages him to follow a more righteous path. Fifty Dollah's brother Miles "Foolish" Waise ( Eddie Griffin), who got his nickname from Odetta, is an aspiring comedian, but his inability to get his career going convinces his older sibling he's wasting his talents. The movie pays homage to several of Griffin's idols, such as

Redd Foxx John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Foxx gained success with his raunchy nightclub act before and during the civil rights movemen ...

, Robin Harris and Sammy Davis Jr. who appear as feet under restroom stalls while he prepares to perform. His idols inspire Foolish to do well in his shows, which are widely attended and scheduled last to keep the bar customers drinking, but he has home trouble with his girlfriend and their son, and after the death of his grandmother, seems unable either to keep a gig or to move on. Fifty Dollah tries to give him the push he needs and tries to get his own life in order, but is distracted both by problems with criminal leader Eldorado Ron (

Andrew Dice Clay Andrew Dice Clay (born Andrew Clay Silverstein; September 29, 1957) is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s with a brash, deliberately offensive persona known as "The Diceman". In 1990, he became the f ...

) and by a painful love triangle with his brother and the girl they both like (Amie) (Amy Petersen).

Cast

as Quentin "Fifty Dollah" Waise * Eddie Griffin as Miles "Foolish" Waise * Amie Petersen as Desiree *

Frank Sivero Frank Sivero (born Francesco Lo Giudice; January 6, 1952) is an Italian-American actor. He played Genco Abbandando in Francis Ford Coppola's ''The Godfather Part II,'' and Frankie Carbone (based on Angelo Sepe) in Martin Scorsese's '' Goodfella ...

as Giovanni * Daphne Duplaix as Clarisse *

Jonathan Banks Jonathan Ray Banks (born January 31, 1947) is an American actor. He played FBI Special Agent Frank McPike in the television series '' Wiseguy'' (1987–1990). For his role, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supportin ...

as "Numbers" *

as Ron "Eldorado Ron" * Sven-Ole Thorsen as Paris *

as Odetta Waise * Traci Bingham as Simone *

Bill Nunn William Goldwyn Nunn III (October 20, 1953 – September 24, 2016) was an American actor known for his roles as Dougy in James Bond III's movie '' Def by Temptation'', Radio Raheem in Spike Lee's film '' Do the Right Thing'', Robbie Robertso ...

as Jimmy Beck *

Clifton Powell Clifton Powell (born March 16, 1956) is an American actor who primarily plays supporting roles in films, such as in '' Ray'' (2004), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture nomination. Ca ...

as Everette Washington * AJ Johnson as Himself * Traequon Tolbert as Miles Waise Jr. *

Brion James Brion Howard James (February 20, 1945 – August 7, 1999) was an American character actor. He portrayed Leon Kowalski in '' Blade Runner'' and appeared in '' Southern Comfort'', '' 48 Hrs.'', ''Another 48 Hrs.'', '' Silverado'', '' Tango & Cash'', ...

as Ruben Reyes, Talent Scout (uncredited)

Soundtrack

A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on March 23, 1999 by

No Limit Records No Limit Records is an American record company founded by Master P. The label's albums were distributed by Priority Records, Universal and Koch Records. The label included artists such as Snoop Dogg, Mercedes, Silkk the Shocker, Mystikal ...

. It peaked at #32 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and #10 on the

Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip-hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Luminate. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated January 30, ...

Reception

References

External links

* * {{No Limit Records 1999 films 1999 comedy-drama films African-American comedy-drama films Hood comedy films Artisan Entertainment films Films directed by Dave Meyers (director) 1999 directorial debut films 1990s English-language films 1990s American films English-language comedy-drama films