Critical reception
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka has an approval rating of 62% on Rotten Tomatoes from 29 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka puts a satirical spin on '70s nostalgia with a comedy whose somewhat scattershot laughs are often offset by pure energetic silliness." [4]
I’m Gonna Git You Sucka received critical receptions that were wide-ranging and numerous in viewpoint. The film opened to rave responses from the black community, who felt the film captured the era of blaxploitation films from the 1970s. [5] Black audience members were thrilled to attend the screening of a movie filled with black actors about a black film genre. [6] Critics also noted Wayans’ ability to satirically capture the trope of the "Buck" in blaxploitation film: the white man's notion of the all-powerful brutal black man. [7]
In her analysis of the film, Harriet Margolis wrote that this is not because "[Jack] consciously chooses to reject his mother’s values as that he wants to establish his own based on the macho heroic values he learned during the heyday of blaxploitation films." [8]
Historian Robert Sklar wrote, "The [blaxploitation film] movement quickly developed into a phenomenon not of an African-American audience but of a specific subgroup, a segment of a segment: young urban males,” so often the perspective and narratives of young black women were left out or included as the background in many of these films during the 1970s. [9]
Critics of the film argued that the film not only failed at producing humor in its use of black stereotypes, but generally was not funny. Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert wrote I’m Gonna Git You Sucka is "a comedy that feeds off the blaxploitation movie, and although, like all good satires, it is cheerfully willing to be offensive, it is almost completely incapable of being funny." [10] There was also a concern about the perception of the film from white moviegoing audiences. The film's villain, Mr. Big, is not only a white man, but a white man responsible for the deterioration of an inner city black community. [6]
Music
I'm Gonna Git You Sucka - The Gap Band
The theme song plays right at the beginning during June Bug's "death by chain overdose," which sets the comedic tone of the film. The thick basslines and brass sections are reminiscent of The Gap Band's signature funk sound. [14] The song exaggerates the heroic style of blaxploitation films, and it also celebrates Black musical culture. It matches the movie perfectly because it has humor and an over-the-top energy that reflects the whole storyline.
If Ever a Love There Was - The Four Tops and Aretha Franklin
This song plays when Jack Spade sees Cheryl Spade at her workplace, which gives the film a rare sweet moment. Aretha Franklin's vocals blend with The Four Tops in a smooth Motown style [15] that brings warmth to the scene. It shows that even though the film is a parody, it still makes space for emotional moments.
Clean Up Your Act - Jermaine Jackson
This track was made especially for the movie and has a classic 1980s R&B groove. It represents the polished pop sound that artists like Jermaine Jackson were known for at the time. The upbeat style reflects how the film plays different eras of Black music, not just the 70s.
Magic Man - Jennifer Holiday
Jennifer Holiday's version of "Magic Man," cover of the Walter Jackson original, adds a dramatic touch to the film. The song feels powerful and theatrical because of Holiday's gospel-trained voice. [16] Jennifer's vocals almost make the movie pause for a moment, becoming less about comedy and more about musical talent. That contrast actually enhances the humor because the emotional intensity is placed inside a parody film.
He's a Flyguy - Curtis Mayfield and Fishbone
This song plays during Flyguy's iconic entrance, where he struts through the street in his flashy yellow outfit and fish-tank shows. People stare, gossip, or admire him until the shoes finally crack for comic relief. Curtis Mayfield's involvement connects the film to the sound of Super Fly, one of the most famous blaxploitation soundtracks. [17] The song perfectly mixes generations of Black musical expression: funk, soul, and 80s rock.
The Beat Is Military - K-9 Posse
The track opens with a sample from The A-Team theme, which instantly makes it feel bold and energetic. Although the lyrics compare the rapper to a military force instead of the typical gangster persona, it still fits the film's comedic exaggeration.
Two Can Play the Game - Too Nice
What really stands out to me is that it samples Johnnie Taylor's "Who's Making Love," even though it's not credited. The track also adds a fun and confident R&B atmosphere that matches the film's cheeky humor.
Jack of Spades - KRS-One / Boogie Down Productions
This song plays at the end of the movie and connects directly to the main character, Jack Spade. When Jack says, "It's my theme music, every hero should have one," it highlights how the song sums up the film's entire plot. KRS-One brings strong 1980s hip-hop energy to the film, bridging the old blaxploitation style with newer rap culture.
You're So Cute - The Gap Band
Another funk-heavy track, this song continues the film's theme of using upbeat and confident music to support its comedic scenes.
Grazin' In The Grass - The Friends of Distinction
This classic 60s/'70s soul gives the film a nostalgic layer. The Friends of Distinction's version is bright and upbeat. Its presence helps connect the parody to a real musical history from the blaxploitation era. [18]
When the Saints (Go Marchin' In) - performed by Kim Wayans
Kim Wayans performs this classical spiritual in a nightclub scene when Jack Spade and John Slade search for One Eyed Sam. The song has a long history in Black religious traditions and later became a jazz standard. [19] In this film, it becomes a playful reference to that heritage.
Dancing Machine - The Jackson 5
This plays during a flashback of Jack and Cheryl on Soul Train , which brings the audience back to the 1970s dance era. Its inclusion helps keep the movie connected to the exact time period it is parodying. The Jackson 5's choreography style also ties into the film's focus on performance and exaggerated action. [20]
Pimp of the Year - Gary Owens
This track accompanies the scene where Flyguy wins "Pimp of the Year." It plays like a pageant theme, which makes the whole moment even more ridiculous. The song represents how the movies uses music to make fun of the pimp stereotype. [21]
Theme from Shaft - Isaac Hayes
The film uses this iconic song during a dramatic entrance, parodying the overly serious entrances of 1970s heroes. Isaac Haye's original score is considered a landmark in film music [22] , and in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, it becomes both a tribute and a joke. The swaggering rhythm and strings highlight how funny the scene really is.
I Mo Get U Sucka - KRS-One
This is another track that adds pure 80s hip-hop into the film. It connects the modern sound of rap to the older blaxploitation style, proving how both genres deal with attitude, and cultural expression.
Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas
The film uses this song to parody the 1970s martial arts craze [23] . The track instantly creates a funny and exaggerated mood because of how widely known it is. Its presence shows how martial arts became part of Black urban pop culture in old blaxploitation movies and how the film jokes about that trend.
War - Edwin Star
This song plays when the character gear up for battle, putting on military gear and preparing for the final showdown. The original song was a serious protest anthem [24] , so using it during a comedic action montage creates an ironic contrast. That moment shows how the movie blends political roots with humor.
