In the dreadfully brash comedy "3 STRIKES", first-time director DJ Pooh simply lets it all hang out which in this case is not a good thing. Pooh, who co-wrote "Fridays", serves up this assuredly mean-spirited, ignorant premise about a street-wise ex-con (Brian Hooks) and his struggle with walking down the straight and narrow path in an effort to avoid the slammer for the third time. "3 STRIKES" is in the tradition of these mindless, farcical urban comedies that feature exasperating hip hop homeboys involving themselves in the excesses of street life. You wouldn't mind the flagrant lowbrow humor that a shockingly rancid flick like "3 STRIKES" brings to the forefront so much if the film bothered to base its mischievousness on something mildly cunning. But this film is just content with being colossally dumb and numbing. "3 STRIKES" is an indefensible gag flick that makes you want to do just that...gag!
Hooks (channeling high-pitched comedian Chris Tucker from "Rush Hour", "Money Talks") is Rob, the former jailbird looking to sow his oats. Rob is a cad alright and we are to justify his horny inhibitions because he's been locked up. Okay, we get it...ha, ha, ha. And once more, because Rob has been sent up the river twice, his third time means incarceration indefintely. And naturally this means involving him with the temptation of outside influences. Sure it's a predictable given but nevertheless a reality for someone in Rob's position. That's all well and good. However, based on these acceptable circumstances, the film becomes excruciatingly obnoxious and droll. Whatever ounce of compassion you had for Rob goes out the window because his "moth-drawn-to-the-flames" predicament becomes quite exaggerated. The film hastily has him getting involved with reprehensible people whom are meant to strike a raw hilarious nerve for the audience. But these folks aren't merely shock value characters for the sake of the film's outlandish premise. Instead, they are overstated and embarassing spectacles. Where Rob was irritating and grating on the nerves to begin with, the supporting players are even more incorrigible than he is. And so we are introduced to such ditties as flatulent uncles, back-stabbing friends, spiteful sex-craved women with no scruples whatsoever...the painful parade of regrettable characers go on and on.
"3 STRIKES" without a doubt is grandly uninviting. It's desperate need to wallow in its negativity by producing unpolished and illiterate characters is neither charming or engaging to say the least. Director Pooh seems to think that his slappy-happy streetwise vehicle is slick in its shameless over-the-top vile hipness. Tell me, what is so darn amusing about repetitive prison rape jokes? Or the need to find anything endearing about sophomoric sexual innuendos? The women in this film are nothing more than one-dimensional tacit tramps. The film's star Brian Hooks ("Phat Beach") adds nothing much to the hapless proceedings besides demonstrating this bug-eyed/wide open mouth routine. Hooks no doubt will evoke this inevitable comparison to the hyper-helium voiced comic Chris Tucker.
Overall, this film's motivation for entertaining the masses goes way beyond that of being this crude comedy willing to provide empty-headed chuckles. It's vindictive and hopelessly dispiriting. In the long run, someone needs to take a bat and swing at "3 STRIKES". Trust me, that gesture alone would guarantee a home run!
Frank rates this film: * star (out of 4 stars)
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