Episode 67

full
Published on:

23rd May 2024

Is 1999's The Wood worth watching? (Spoiler alert: Yes!)

The Wood (1999) is a coming-of-age romantic comedy which tells the tale of Roland getting cold feet on his wedding day and we are invited to a front-row seat to Ro, Slim and Mike's often awkward high school years as they bond in Inglewood, CA.

Topics discussed:

🎤 This is on the low end of the range of what we would define as Hip Hop movies, but the soundtrack is full of 80s and 90s jams.

😳 For men of a certain age, it's a familiar ride through the awkwardness of junior high and high school.

👊🏾 Strong chemistry among the lead actors, who give a warmth to their origin story.

📼 The flashbacks make the movie and most of the runtime.

📲 As with many films made before the smartphone era, some things would be different about the story today.

Also check out:

Roger Ebert's review of The Wood

Credits

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your HHMCs JB, BooGie, and DynoWright. Theme music by BooGie. Follow @hiphopmovieclub on Instagram!

And remember:

Don't hate...demonstrate!

Transcript
Speaker:

Welcome to Hip Hop Movie Club, the show

that harmonizes the rhythm of hip hop with

2

:

the magic of movies.

3

:

Today, we're discussing The Wood, a

nostalgic comedy with a classic hip hop

4

:

laced soundtrack.

5

:

We're three old heads who put their old

heads together to vibe on these films for

6

:

you.

7

:

I'm Dyno Wright, podcaster, filmmaker,

longtime hip hop fan, and I'm glad to say

8

:

I saw OutKast at least once in 2002 on the

Smokin' Grooves Tour.

9

:

I'm JB, 80s and 90s nostalgia junkie, long

time hip hop fan, and I'm a big fan of

10

:

baseball references in hip hop songs, like

when the Beastie Boys mention Rod Carew or

11

:

Sadaharu Oh or Q -Tip mentions Lou Brock

and the Braves and the Yankees.

12

:

This is my Venn diagram.

13

:

I'm BooGie, a DJ, long time hip hop fan,

and I have a series of old school hip hop

14

:

mixes that are titled The Throwback

Series.

15

:

Check them out sometime.

16

:

In this episode we'll answer the question,

is The Wood worth watching?

17

:

We'll give you five key takeaways to make

you a smarter hip -hop movie fan.

18

:

The Wood is a coming of age romantic

comedy which tells the tale of Roland

19

:

getting cold feet on his wedding day.

20

:

And we are invited to a front row seat to

Ro, Slim and Mike's often awkward high

21

:

school years as they bond in Inglewood,

California.

22

:

Here are five things you need to know

about The Wood.

23

:

This is low on the end of the range of

what we would define as hip -hop movies,

24

:

but the soundtrack is full of 80s and 90s

jams.

25

:

Number two, for a man of a certain age,

it's a familiar ride through the

26

:

awkwardness of junior high and high

school.

27

:

Number three, strong chemistry among the

lead actors who give it a warmth to their

28

:

origin story.

29

:

The flashbacks make the movie, sorry.

30

:

Number four, the flashbacks make the movie

and most of the runtime.

31

:

And number five, as with many films made

before the smartphone era, some things

32

:

will be different about the story today.

33

:

Right on.

34

:

All right, let's get right into it.

35

:

First takeaway was, it's on the low end

range of what would be defined by us as

36

:

hip hop movies, but the soundtrack is full

of 80s and 90s jams.

37

:

So let's dig right into the soundtrack,

because I loved it as I do with other

38

:

films by Rick Famuyiwa So who wants to

kick us off about the soundtrack and what

39

:

are the jams you liked and how did they

play out within the story?

40

:

Yeah, I got a list of them.

41

:

I can run through half of them.

42

:

I can run through them.

43

:

But I would start off with the opening

credits.

44

:

Back in the day, classic.

45

:

Yeah, very appropriate for the type of

movie that we're about to see because as

46

:

we're talking about Ro getting cold feet,

a lot of the movie, as mentioned, does

47

:

take place in flashback scenes as the

three gentlemen are growing up in.

48

:

starts off in middle school into high

school.

49

:

So that was a very good one.

50

:

We got Eric B is President by Eric B and

Rakim.

51

:

And that is playing as Mike is basically

telling a story about how his family moved

52

:

from North Carolina to Inglewood and he's

kind of transitioning and showing the

53

:

layout for Inglewood and what we're about

to come across as you know, we get

54

:

familiar with the neighborhood that

they're in.

55

:

Yeah, You'll Be Illin by Run DMC.

56

:

And that's playing while Ro and Slim dare

Mike to grab Alicia's butt on the first

57

:

day of school.

58

:

Not the second, but the first day of

school.

59

:

Yes.

60

:

Yeah, that was some hazing like, hey, you

gonna hang with us, a new kid from North

61

:

Carolina?

62

:

This is something I dare you to do for

like a dollar.

63

:

They set him up.

64

:

We have Make the Music with Your Mouth Biz

by the late legendary Biz Markie as Mike

65

:

is trying to practice his dancing moves

before the first school dance.

66

:

And he realized that before that, that he

didn't know how to dance.

67

:

Then we have The Freaks Come Out at Night

by Whodini as the trio of them are walking

68

:

up to the school for the dance.

69

:

Yeah, if there's other ones I can keep

going or I can pass it off.

70

:

Yeah, you want to chime in with something

DynoWright?

71

:

I know you would identify a few as well.

72

:

no, BooGie covered it.

73

:

I just want to mention that it might be

debatable whether we think this is a hip

74

:

-hop movie or not.

75

:

It does provide some of the soundtrack to

the happenings.

76

:

But I think that's about the extent of the

hip -hop movie -ness of it.

77

:

Yeah, for us, this is kind of like Golden

Age.

78

:

It's kind of like from the infancy up into

the Golden Age, like late 80s, early 90s.

79

:

Like some of those jams you mentioned are

like all timers.

80

:

And Peter Piper was played and They Call

Me D-Nice And like, those are just beats

81

:

that are constantly played or sampled in

the clubs.

82

:

And,

83

:

you just nod your head as you go along.

84

:

So it's a fun time.

85

:

And just like I said, just like he does

with all the other movies, and especially

86

:

we just recently watched Dope, which

covered a lot of 90s hip hop.

87

:

This is a little bit earlier and it's

awesome.

88

:

Soundtrack's amazing.

89

:

give me a soundtrack with Eric B and

Rakim, Run-DMC you know, KRS- 1, classic D

90

:

-Nice.

91

:

Like, talk about D -Nice, like, we

remember D -Nice as being able to rap.

92

:

This generation knows him as a DJ.

93

:

I mean, he DJ'd back then, but he DJ'd and

rapped.

94

:

Like now, he's sort of, you know,

primarily known as DJ.

95

:

But yes, D -Nice actually had skills on

the mic.

96

:

Yeah, that's all right.

97

:

He's big time DJ.

98

:

So the next takeaway, takeaway two was for

men of a certain age, it's a familiar ride

99

:

through the awkwardness of junior high and

high school.

100

:

So I'll talk a little bit about it and

kind of hand it off.

101

:

Yeah, I mean, you do see the awkwardness

around girls that these guys had, you

102

:

know, the crushes and.

103

:

yeah.

104

:

You know, getting aroused at an

inappropriate time and, you know, hiding,

105

:

you know, in the classroom, things like

that, you know, betting who can, who can,

106

:

you know, lose their virginity and stuff

like that.

107

:

Very reminiscent of a lot of awkwardness

that teenage boys talk about or used to

108

:

back then.

109

:

Dyno Wright.

110

:

You want to expand upon some of, some of

the.

111

:

those types of antics.

112

:

yeah, antics is the right word for it.

113

:

Antics and, you know, I think I think all

of us can relate to a lot of that

114

:

awkwardness and trying to present yourself

basically fronting that you know what

115

:

you're doing.

116

:

No one really does.

117

:

And in some cases, treating women badly,

unfortunate, but it did happen and it

118

:

still happens.

119

:

And.

120

:

you know, things like touching her butt or

like, you know, setting out on a mission

121

:

to get as many numbers as you can.

122

:

Like, it's, you know, it's treated

accurately, I think, in the movie.

123

:

So it's really relatable in that way.

124

:

Like we see in a lot of these movies, it's

juvenile stuff and it's inappropriate

125

:

behavior.

126

:

And we'd like to think that we've evolved

as a society, but it did happen, it still

127

:

does happen.

128

:

And that was part of their coming of age

for these guys.

129

:

The other things they would do for sex.

130

:

You could relate to it.

131

:

Yeah, I think from like from the moment

Mike saw Alicia, he was almost obsessed

132

:

with her.

133

:

It was so funny in the beginning, you

know, that the awkward moment, you know,

134

:

teachers trying to get him to introduce

himself to the class and he's...

135

:

But they made some, I mean, I like how

they made light of the awkwardness.

136

:

Like in that moment, how they played that

scene, that whole scene, how they

137

:

didn't...

138

:

just make it like so, you know, he got

picked on, he got through the moment, but

139

:

it was kind of humorous.

140

:

You know, even the whole scene with Ro and

Slim daring you know, Mike to touch

141

:

Alicia's butt, you know, they made it,

they put a little humor to it.

142

:

They had that, I call it the Spanish

matador music, which actually was in the

143

:

soundtrack in a song called the Bullfight

Dramatico.

144

:

I'm like, I didn't realize that.

145

:

the name of the song.

146

:

I hear it all the time, but now I know the

name of it.

147

:

You know, they played the song as he's

rounding, you know, he's running around

148

:

trying to get the right angle to get in

there.

149

:

But it was funny.

150

:

But, you know, the contest, you know, even

that part, they were joking around trying

151

:

to see who can get the most numbers and

throughout the party.

152

:

And there were different scenes, you know,

different scenes going on.

153

:

They were dancing and

154

:

Mike got to show off his Dance Fever

moves.

155

:

I like how they put the little humor to

it.

156

:

Even the bet, they made it a little

humorous to it in that aspect where it's

157

:

like, yeah, it was a serious topic, but it

was, hey, that's what, it's one of those

158

:

quote unquote, boys will be boys type.

159

:

And then even when it gets towards the end

and they're like, you know, they're

160

:

actually at the dance as high schoolers

and they're hanging outside and they're

161

:

like, yo, you know, I think we should do

this forever.

162

:

Like what?

163

:

You know, macking and hanging.

164

:

It's like, you know, getting, not being

tied down by one woman, but just

165

:

continuously, you know, running through

the ranks and just, you know, but it's

166

:

like, yeah.

167

:

Of course we know that it didn't really

happen because.

168

:

The whole premise of the story is get Ro

to the altar.

169

:

But I like how they added a little bit of

humor to trying to get through those

170

:

awkward topics.

171

:

Yeah, I think it was done well in that way

because, you know, it's not awkward and

172

:

sad.

173

:

Like, we went through this as in our own

growing up.

174

:

Like, none of that stuff was like somber.

175

:

It was just sort of kind of funny, like,

ha ha ha.

176

:

So I think the accuracy of it is

endearing.

177

:

And there were repercussions for Mike's

indiscretion, you know, touch a butt, you

178

:

know, she called her brother and said,

listen my brother's gonna come and he did

179

:

beat him up.

180

:

And so like that harkens back to like the

school yard brawls and stuff and people

181

:

watching around and rallying around and

his newly found friends, you know,

182

:

somewhat supported them.

183

:

They had his back a little bit and they

started getting, catching some strays.

184

:

They started catching some strays like,

all right, you got this, you know, but.

185

:

You know, Alicia comes in and is like,

alright stop.

186

:

But an interesting dynamic later on with

her brother, Stacey, you know, with him

187

:

sticking up the store and the relationship

between all of those guys.

188

:

Not to give it away, but yeah, I think it

was well done.

189

:

Yeah, that's the whole scene where he was,

you know, when he's in class and he knows

190

:

what's gonna happen after school.

191

:

So Alicia said her brother was coming,

he's watching the clock like, God, God,

192

:

God.

193

:

It reminiscence like that, you know, three

o 'clock high or that, you know, after

194

:

school beat down or, you know, he's like

watching the clock like, man, man.

195

:

But yeah, as you hinted JB, he definitely,

you know, there was a...

196

:

a shift in a relationship between him and

the older brother, Stacey.

197

:

He actually ended up getting kind of

Stacey's respect in some aspects.

198

:

But yeah.

199

:

Yeah.

200

:

Another takeaway was the strong chemistry

among the male lead actors and that gives

201

:

a warmth to the origin story.

202

:

So there's a lot of this male bonding that

you can really relate to.

203

:

Dyno Wright, you want to take us through a

little bit of that?

204

:

Sure.

205

:

So even the movies, we'll talk about the

flashbacks, but the movie sort of takes

206

:

place in two timeframes.

207

:

It's the junior high and high school time,

and then it's the modern time.

208

:

And so even the adult versions of them,

the Omar Epps, Richard T.

209

:

Jones and Taye Diggs, they have a very

good chemistry together.

210

:

You can feel the warmth that was built

through the experiences that they had at

211

:

junior and.

212

:

in high school played by played by played

by Trent Cameron, Sean Nelson and Duane

213

:

Finley.

214

:

So in that play, in that sense, it moves

back and forth between the flashbacks and

215

:

the modern times.

216

:

And I had some problems with that, but

they really did a good job of casting

217

:

these young versions of them.

218

:

And you could really you can really feel

the warmth that they had for each other.

219

:

And that continued.

220

:

into their adulthood.

221

:

Yeah, it was very believable.

222

:

They played really well off each other as

youngsters and even in modern day versions

223

:

as well.

224

:

And I'll say, you know, Roger Ebert brings

this up, but a lot of films in that time

225

:

period don't really portray young Black

men in this kind of way.

226

:

They're stereotypically like gang bangers

or some other, you know, they're doing

227

:

something else than just being like high

school kids.

228

:

Even Slim, they allude to him being an

athlete, but they don't really, you don't

229

:

really see that in the movie.

230

:

They...

231

:

gesture at it.

232

:

But similar to Dope, we reviewed last

week, he shines a light on a marginalized

233

:

group of a marginalized group.

234

:

And so the normal, I guess, kind of Black

kids that aren't like drug dealers or

235

:

something like that, they get caught up a

little bit in the lifestyle when they get

236

:

stuck in the convenience store when it's

getting held up.

237

:

But other than that, it wasn't like the

defining

238

:

thing in their lives.

239

:

So that was kind of nice to see a

different kind of, similar we saw in Dope,

240

:

you know, a different kind of people

within its population.

241

:

So, and they did a really good job of just

having that kind of portrayal.

242

:

So, yeah, good male bonding stuff.

243

:

think of it from that perspective.

244

:

Think of all the movies we've covered up

at this time that featured younger Black

245

:

men and the great majority of them

involves drugs or violence or a life of

246

:

crime.

247

:

It is refreshing to see just buddy film,

like comedy.

248

:

buddy, you know, there's a lot of

different kinds of film in this one film.

249

:

Yeah.

250

:

me a normal coming of age story of some

kids growing up.

251

:

And then we see them in their older selves

and we see that they actually made it

252

:

through successfully and are living a

normal life.

253

:

Yeah.

254

:

Yeah.

255

:

because you think of like the Brat Pack or

the Frat Pack and all those guys.

256

:

It's like these white guys, a lot of these

films are buddy -buddy films and the big

257

:

box office smashes, but you don't really

see that much with, it was primarily a

258

:

Black cast.

259

:

Like I didn't really see too many white

folks.

260

:

And that was interesting because it was

unique, especially for that timeframe.

261

:

Yeah.

262

:

Yeah.

263

:

I mean, and I mean, it definitely allude

to the lifestyle.

264

:

You know, the first thing they asked, one

of the first things they asked Mike was he

265

:

Cuzz or Bloods.

266

:

So you know there's Bloods and Crips in

the neighborhood.

267

:

And then we see this, you know, with

Stacey and his crew, you know, we find out

268

:

that they are Bloods.

269

:

So we know that there's the element in the

neighborhood, you know, stores are getting

270

:

stuck up.

271

:

You know, there's still the element of,

you know, police seeing young Black men in

272

:

the car and pulling them over.

273

:

wanting to harass them for whatever

reason.

274

:

I mean, yeah, you say the tail lights out,

but there's no reason for them to be

275

:

pulled out of the car.

276

:

If they're on a search, they're on a

search.

277

:

If they're tail light out, give them a

ticket and send them home.

278

:

You know, stuff like that.

279

:

are there.

280

:

It's not like dominating the story that,

you know, they live in, you know,

281

:

Inglewood and all that entails.

282

:

I guess I'll address, I don't know what to

call it, elephant in the room, but I was

283

:

thinking that would have been like white

cops, it may have a different story

284

:

because of all the history, you know?

285

:

And I'm like, man, you know?

286

:

That was intentional probably, the way

they scripted it and everything, yeah.

287

:

Yeah, definitely intentional.

288

:

Well, I mean, even like, even NWA, but NWA

would even allude to it in some of their

289

:

lyrics.

290

:

They say, yeah, you know, we had white

cops in the neighborhoods, but some of the

291

:

ones that treated us the worst were the

Black ones.

292

:

Yeah.

293

:

So, I mean, it could have gone either way.

294

:

Yeah, for sure.

295

:

Yeah, so chemistry was there.

296

:

We mentioned that.

297

:

And then the takeaway number four was the

flashbacks.

298

:

They really make the movie and the most of

the runtime.

299

:

Like I was shocked at like how much time

was spent back in the day, like the song

300

:

says, but like the kids growing up.

301

:

Yeah.

302

:

So, BooGie, you wanna take us through some

of the happenings as the...

303

:

They were in middle school and high

school.

304

:

high school.

305

:

Yeah, I can take it.

306

:

So we had, you know, Sean Nelson, Trent

Cameron and Duane Finley, as we mentioned,

307

:

playing the younger versions of Mike, Ro,

and Slim, in Inglewood.

308

:

And I mean, it starts off in 1986, when

Mike's, his younger brother and his mother

309

:

moved to Inglewood from North Carolina.

310

:

And upon going to school, Mike encounters

Ro and Slim, and they're like, yo, are

311

:

you...

312

:

Like I mentioned earlier, are you Cuz or

Blood and he's like, what?

313

:

I don't even know what you're talking

about.

314

:

They're like, yo, maybe you need to hang

out with us so we can keep you from

315

:

getting shot.

316

:

They turn around and, you know, get him to

grab Alicia's butt, which prompts Alicia

317

:

to contact her brother, Stacey, who comes

up and we already went through that.

318

:

But again, a few months later, everything

seems to calm down and then, you know,

319

:

they have this school dance.

320

:

Which was kind of funny because throughout

the whole dance you hear nothing but the

321

:

old school classics and it was great to

hear those songs.

322

:

Then, you know, as they're, they, they,

actually before they get to the dance,

323

:

they're like, you know, when they, they

want to go get some mints and then they

324

:

witnessed the, you know, burglary taking

place at the convenience store.

325

:

And then they ended up getting tagged

along into the, into that, because of, you

326

:

know, Stacey and his crew were the

perpetrators and they, they were scared at

327

:

the same time, but you know, they kind of

went along because what were they going to

328

:

do?

329

:

but like I said, you know, Mike, you know,

330

:

you know, gets Stacey's respect and, you

know, Stacey kind of helps him out with,

331

:

you know, trying to talk to his sister.

332

:

You don't get too much into it there.

333

:

But then it goes to talk about high school

and, you know, they're a little older, you

334

:

know, Mike and Alicia no longer together

or whatever.

335

:

So there's the bet on who can lose their

virginity first.

336

:

And it shows like a montage of.

337

:

the guys just trying to convince random

girls or the girlfriends, you know, how

338

:

they move on to the next step.

339

:

And the girls are basically like, no,

they're not buying it.

340

:

They're not buying it.

341

:

Which is kind of funny because they're

trying to have a little bet jar going on

342

:

for every time they get rejected.

343

:

At the end of the week, they have to add

money to it.

344

:

So you just see them keep adding money to

the jar, which is showing up.

345

:

You don't think y 'all macking, but y 'all

not.

346

:

But yeah, it was cool, like I said, you

know, just seeing.

347

:

some of the funny antics that these guys

try to go through, just trying to make it

348

:

in that neighborhood.

349

:

But yeah, it was entertaining, funny.

350

:

And he covered it, a lot of antics and

hijinks, as we said.

351

:

Yeah.

352

:

Dyno Wright you wanted to talk maybe about

some of the fashion from the 90s that was

353

:

on display?

354

:

You

355

:

yes, it was great to see that again.

356

:

Even though you might think it's

questionable now, but some of those lapels

357

:

you could really like land a pontoon boat

on.

358

:

Yeah

359

:

Really wonderful.

360

:

It's great.

361

:

the loud colors they're wearing and which

was it was it Ro's younger version with

362

:

the the jheri curls like like the

ridiculous like jerry jheri curls back

363

:

then yeah reminiscent of Soul Glo so yeah

Soul Glo yeah yeah it didn't

364

:

they rubbed with the grab.

365

:

Like wiping it off on him, man.

366

:

I mean when was the last time you saw a

Guess?

367

:

jacket?

368

:

Yeah, the Guess?

369

:

jacket.

370

:

I remember I wanted that jacket so bad.

371

:

-hmm.

372

:

Yeah.

373

:

the Guess?

374

:

shirt underneath it, you know.

375

:

and the very boxy shoulder pad jazz suit,

New Jack suit.

376

:

Wonderful.

377

:

Mike had a Member's Only jacket on the

first day of school.

378

:

Yeah, he's definitely from a little

country.

379

:

I have a Member's Only a jacket right now

the same color.

380

:

I saw it and said, my God, throwback.

381

:

so fun.

382

:

everything retro comes back at some point

so hold on to that.

383

:

Yeah.

384

:

Yeah, it's cool to see those throwback

fashions.

385

:

Yeah, and takeaway five is, as with many

films made before the smartphone era, some

386

:

things will be different about the story

today.

387

:

What do you think would be a bit different

there, Dyno Wright?

388

:

In that regard.

389

:

that the three of them disappear for like

two or three hours on the wedding day.

390

:

And like, that wouldn't happen now.

391

:

There'd be like mad texts flowing and

stuff.

392

:

So, or find my iPhone and they would just

like track them down.

393

:

So, you know, that, that contrivance

doesn't, doesn't happen now.

394

:

So it's like, okay.

395

:

They just allowed to disappear.

396

:

Yeah, even the bridesmaids would probably

be like...

397

:

on a rampage trying to get him to the

wedding.

398

:

Yeah.

399

:

Yeah.

400

:

They would have got him.

401

:

And the plot is, I'm not even sure what

the point of the movie was.

402

:

I think the point of the movie was the

power of friendship and the power of male

403

:

bonding, but...

404

:

The rest of it was like, why should I be

convinced that Rolando actually likes

405

:

Lisa?

406

:

That was sort of tacked on at the end.

407

:

Why are we trying to drag him to the

church or to the wedding?

408

:

No, other than he's got cold feet.

409

:

So why?

410

:

Yeah.

411

:

ex Tanya, you know, for guidance or for

safety, you know, like when he got into a

412

:

jam.

413

:

Yeah.

414

:

he even alluded that you guys need to get

out of here because it's looking kind of

415

:

good.

416

:

I might get a last minute one in.

417

:

you know the point of the the the driving

force of this movie was to get him to the

418

:

wedding but they didn't really talk about

the marriage like Is this is a good idea

419

:

They kind of glossed around it a little

bit.

420

:

yeah, they sort of hint at it.

421

:

So that part didn't really work for me in

this movie.

422

:

And the flashbacks of the other, the young

versions of them were really good.

423

:

But you think of a movie with these

actors, you don't get to see them that

424

:

much.

425

:

Taye Diggs and Omar Epps, and they sort of

get like second billing.

426

:

What more can I say?

427

:

Top billing.

428

:

Yeah.

429

:

sorry.

430

:

So the one, I guess, surprise element or a

subplot was, you know, Mike being able to

431

:

get back together with Alicia, you know,

at the end, because that was the big

432

:

crush.

433

:

And if you think about it or you listen

closely, they had the opportunity to kind

434

:

of stay together because one of them went

to Columbia, one of them got into NYU or

435

:

vice versa, but like one of them decided

not to go.

436

:

Right.

437

:

So.

438

:

They had an opportunity and they didn't.

439

:

And then it turns out that she comes back

for the wedding to see the old friends.

440

:

And Mike's kind of surprised to see her

and they get to talking and it looks like

441

:

they.

442

:

Reconcile or...

443

:

Yeah.

444

:

actually go to New York this time instead

of not going like last time.

445

:

Yeah.

446

:

That was one thing about that, like the

movie takes all this time to talk about

447

:

their relationship, but that wasn't even

like the point of the plot.

448

:

I thought, we're not here about Mike and

Alicia.

449

:

We're here to talk about Rolando and Lisa.

450

:

We don't even see Lisa for like an hour

and a half.

451

:

We're watching.

452

:

I'm like looking like when they keep

showing the getting ready the bridesmaids

453

:

like I don't even where's the bride?

454

:

Where's the bride?

455

:

I see the parents.

456

:

on Frasier.

457

:

It's Maris - It's Maris Crane or whatever

they - from Frasier.

458

:

Like you never see her.

459

:

It's like Snuffleupagus.

460

:

I like the neighbor at home improvement,

Wilson over the fence.

461

:

You never see the person.

462

:

man.

463

:

The Wood.

464

:

man.

465

:

weird elements like that.

466

:

I actually struggled to write some of the

notes.

467

:

I mean, yeah, we document what happens.

468

:

It was fun.

469

:

I was laughing at the camaraderie and the

stuff, but the whole kind of plot thing

470

:

was kind of like a little bit odd.

471

:

But the soundtrack was insane.

472

:

So I loved it.

473

:

Yeah, it's a fun time overall.

474

:

Yeah, there's certainly some good like

laugh lines.

475

:

Yeah.

476

:

So.

477

:

felt for him.

478

:

I felt for Slim getting his Ferragamo's

puked on.

479

:

I mean, those are...

480

:

Those are thousand dollar shoes now.

481

:

I mean, I felt that.

482

:

Someone threw up on my Park Avenue Allen

Edmonds, I'd be upset.

483

:

Yeah.

484

:

It was fun.

485

:

part in the movie that had me cracking up

a little bit.

486

:

After they left the convenience store with

Stacey and his guy Boo, and they sit in

487

:

the back seat, and there's this dialogue

going on between Stacey and Boo's

488

:

character.

489

:

Stacey's like, you know, I think I might

want to become a rapper.

490

:

Yes, that was funny.

491

:

I'm writing an album about smoking weed.

492

:

And Boo looks at him and says, ain't

nobody about to buy no album about smoking

493

:

weed.

494

:

And I look at him like, hmm, we had an

album called The Chronic.

495

:

Yeah, yeah.

496

:

I mean, that was an intentional joke, like

an inside joke because of the chronic,

497

:

because of Cypress Hill.

498

:

Like, you know, because I got high, like

seriously, like how many people, how many

499

:

rappers, Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, like

seriously, like how many songs and artists

500

:

have made lucrative careers around rapping

about weed?

501

:

Seriously.

502

:

Like that was kind of a joke, yeah,

because he was ahead of his time.

503

:

I mean, that was like it was so close.

504

:

It was like 1992.

505

:

You're going to hear about it.

506

:

Right.

507

:

Pick up the mic in about six years, you

might be onto something.

508

:

Yeah, exactly.

509

:

away, Dre is like about to drop this

album.

510

:

It's a change.

511

:

Blow your mind.

512

:

Yeah.

513

:

the lab.

514

:

So this movie's from 99, I think, if I

recall, right?

515

:

So I think Rick Famuyiwa and I apologize

if I'm mispronouncing his name, it's

516

:

tricky, but I think he's evolved as a

director.

517

:

I think the writing got better and better.

518

:

Dope, the dialogue, I think, was much

better.

519

:

That funny line about the weed and rapping

and then like...

520

:

Other funny dialogue is like the one guy

was like a savant about breath mints and

521

:

that was kind of funny here and there.

522

:

Other were just like little jokes inside

jokes, but I he has evolved like, I think

523

:

he matured with his directing.

524

:

I don't know if he wrote, you know, the

writing in his movies got, I guess, better

525

:

too.

526

:

I think he did write this one.

527

:

He wrote the screenplay.

528

:

So I mean, this is his story.

529

:

So yeah, yeah, he definitely improved, you

know, The Wood walked so of Dope could

530

:

fly, right?

531

:

Yeah, exactly.

532

:

And remember, he's the guy behind Brown

Sugar also, which is a really good film as

533

:

well.

534

:

three years, you know, I think some of the

things he learned from Making the Wood,

535

:

who made its way into Brown Sugar, you

know, we would re -enjoy that movie too.

536

:

I definitely mentioned this with DOPE, the

one thing that I still find humorous.

537

:

It's just a small thing, but it's so funny

because we get to see young Stacey in the

538

:

woods and we see older mature security

guards, Stacey and DOPE.

539

:

Yes.

540

:

Yeah.

541

:

Well, but he a little soon said, hey, ask

your father about me.

542

:

It's like a Famuyiwa cinematic universe.

543

:

FCU.

544

:

it's kind of cool when people use these

guys.

545

:

and see if he's like the, gotta look at

Brown Sugar and see if he's just a

546

:

security guard in the background.

547

:

He got to New York and Mike didn't.

548

:

Yeah.

549

:

Thanks.

550

:

Speaking of Brown Sugar we got another

Sanaa Lathan sighting

551

:

Yes!

552

:

You

553

:

really is a Sanaa Lathan stan podcast

anymore.

554

:

It's fine with me.

555

:

How many mentions?

556

:

the analysis, her name gets mentioned the

most.

557

:

Yeah.

558

:

I mean, although, you know, we got Lisa

Ray in here now, so that's a, she got some

559

:

comp.

560

:

Well...

561

:

Yeah.

562

:

Sanaa Lathan.

563

:

We gotta get her on the podcast.

564

:

Somebody knows our get her on the podcast

565

:

If anybody knows her, reach out to us.

566

:

hiphopmovieclub .gmail .com Hook us up.

567

:

right.

568

:

We got a lot of love for her.

569

:

Alright fellas, let's go around the room

and give our ratings for The Wood.

570

:

BooGie, for this movie The Wood.

571

:

Bring that funky flick back or leave it in

the vault?

572

:

Yeah, I've seen this quite a few times

already, so I'm gonna bring a funky flick

573

:

back.

574

:

It makes me laugh.

575

:

Yeah.

576

:

Dyno Wright?

577

:

What is your rating?

578

:

Bring that funky flick back or leave it in

the vault.

579

:

Despite the gripes I have, bring this

funky flick back.

580

:

Yes, and that makes three of us.

581

:

The soundtrack, the camaraderie, it is a

fun, fun movie.

582

:

And so bring that funky flick back for me

as well.

583

:

Okay.

584

:

Come for the music, stay for the

gratuitous male nudity in the movie.

585

:

I forgot about that part.

586

:

you know, you don't really see that in

movies these days.

587

:

Whoa.

588

:

OK.

589

:

All right, then.

590

:

if any of our listeners are into those

guys, you know, make them a surprise.

591

:

The moon is out over Inglewood.

592

:

The moons.

593

:

You can see the moon during the day.

594

:

Hip Hop Movie Club is produced by your

HHMC's JB, BooGie and Dyno Wright.

595

:

Theme music by BooGie.

596

:

Whether you're listening to the podcast or

watching us on YouTube, please give us a

597

:

follow.

598

:

Please give us a follow.

599

:

It's a real power up for us.

600

:

Thanks for tuning in.

601

:

And remember, don't hate, demonstrate.

602

:

Show us.

603

:

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha

Show artwork for Hip Hop Movie Club

About the Podcast

Hip Hop Movie Club
Harmonizing the rhythm of hip hop with the magic of movies
Upcoming Hip Hop Movie Club events:
Oct 25 - Live show at Rider University Homecoming 2024:
https://www.rider.edu/about/events/homecoming-weekend

Nov 13 - Boyz n the Hood screening at SteelStacks, Bethlehem PA: https://www.steelstacks.org/event/16191/boyz-n-the-hood/

HHMC is brought to you by a trio of longtime hip hop fans: JB, an 80s and 90s nostalgia junkie, BooGie, a veteran DJ and graffiti artist, and DynoWright, podcaster and filmmaker.

Buy some merch: https://meteorwright.one/shop

More events to be announced! Subscribe to our newsletter and get updated on events: https://hiphopmovieclub.substack.com/