They Cloned Tyrone (2023) Review!!

Synopsis – A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy in this pulpy mystery caper.

My Take – While the audience around the world have been keeping themselves busy with the double feature #Barbenheimer, Netflix also released their latest team-up with Jamie Foxx, having previously collaborated with him on Day Shift (2022) and Project Power (2020), in the form of an unexpected mash-up of unique elements that collect together into a mostly satisfying whole.

Marking the feature directorial debut of Juel Taylor, known for his work as a writer on Creed II (2018) and Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021), the film works as a harmonizing blend of blaxploitation, that lands squarely between the surreal menace of John Carpenter’s They Live (1988) and the incisive political satire of Boots Riley’s Sorry to Bother You (2018). With even nods to Hollow Man (2000) and Groundhog Day (1993) thrown in for good measure. Resulting in one of the funniest, most thrilling, and most surprising films to come out this year.

Part sci-fi, part mystery, part action, and part comedy, the film is a perfect combination of mixed genres, intriguing plot, smart dialogues, and best of all believable chemistry among its leads – John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, and Jamie Foxx who are hilariously superb together.

A fascinating genre mix that also includes a very particular visual style. Well, not just visual, but also in terms of dialogue, which is whip-smart and extremely fast-paced. Co-written by Tony Rettenmainer, the story itself is unique and does a good job of touching on such a serious subject without trivializing it or making it so serious you feel like you’re getting lectured.

Though some might point out its familiar set up of an unsuspecting protagonist getting embroiled in a plot bigger than he could imagine, but what makes this particular one different is its plot devices which propel our trio throughout the film.

The story follows Fontaine (John Boyega), a steely-eyed drug pusher living in the Glen, a predominantly Black neighborhood that’s seen better days. Haunted by the loss of his little brother and seemingly estranged from his mother, Fontaine goes about his days trying to make ends meet, shaking down clients and squaring up against would-be rival dealers looking to edge into his turf. Then, he’s ambushed and murdered by his primary rival, Isaac (J. Alphonse Nicholson).

However, Fontaine awakes the next morning in cold sweat, miraculously unharmed and with seemingly no memory of the altercation. But, during his rounds of collecting, he ends up facing Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx), a pimp, who is shocked to see Fontaine unharmed, who informs him about being killed last night, with his story corroborated by soon to be retired prostitute Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris).

And as Fontaine begins to search for answers with Charles and Yo-Yo reluctantly in tow, the three end up unearthing a vast conspiracy with his inexplicable reappearance only being the tip of the iceberg.

Without a doubt, Juel Taylor‘s directorial debut is an impressive achievement that has all the hallmarks of a cult classic, a confident and audacious piece of storytelling. Filmed with the aesthetic of a 1970s Blaxploitation film, it lovingly combines sci-fi, comedy, action and a Nancy Drew-esque conspiracy that would make The X-Files proud.

The film is a lot of things: funny, thrilling, subversively satirical, disarmingly poignant, and, above all, a blast to watch throughout. Representing exactly the type of witty and original storytelling that streaming services could do with more. Like filmmaker Jordan Peele‘s films, here, Juel Taylor comes across as a director with a keen interest in and understanding of social issues, and with a talent for weaving said topics into genre fare that is as edifying as it is enjoyable.

He leans heavily into several tropes and myths within the black community to relay a story about drugs in the community, how the community is/could be controlled, the roles of specific characters within the community, how a community can oppress itself and more.

The grainy visual texture, the funky costumes and hairdos, the energetic soundtrack, and much of the film’s aesthetics are carefully designed to remind us of some of the finest entries in the Blaxploitation sub-genre.

Yes, his influences can be overly prevalent, and he struggles to maintain suspense as the film stretches for 119 minutes and reaches a conclusion that’s somewhat flat compared to sharper earlier acts. But he carefully wiggles between numerous genres, makes the very most of the take-everything-serious/take-nothing-serious dynamic of Fontaine, Slick and Yo-Yo respectively, and keenly cultivates drama and comedy in nearly every scene.

The balance of these personalities clashing and complementing each other, with Charles and Yo-Yo constantly bickering as Fontaine silently fumes with frustration and confusion over the entire situation, is genuinely hilarious to watch. Director Taylor and co-writer Tony Rettenmaier’s writing is terrific on its own, but when animated by the cast’s performances, it constantly engages.

John Boyega delivers a transformative performance, illustrating once again the talent and range he possesses, particularly through the tumultuous emotional arc of Fontaine’s personal search for the truth. Teyonah Parris is the heart and conscience of the film, a strong-willed woman with an eclectic range of talents and interests that make her the perfect person to put all the pieces together and rally her compatriots to action.

But it is Jamie Foxx who steals the show in almost every scene he’s in with a flamboyant personality and uncanny knack for getting himself into and out of trouble. In supporting roles, Kiefer Sutherland and J. Alphonse Nicholson also manage to leave an impact. On the whole, ‘They Cloned Tyrone’ is a smart, rousing one-of-a-kind sci-fi adventure that largely delivers through its very unlikely trio.