In 1972 the original Super Fly was released and did well in theaters. Two sequels were made but it also had its detractors with some seeing the blaxploitation film as a step backwards for the African-American Culture. Even though the character was beloved by many, it just kind of fell silently to the wayside. Several decades have passed and Director X, mostly known for his work on music videos, is looking to bring this iconic character into today’s spotlight to see if the time is right to thrive. SuperFly is ready to meet a whole new generation.
Youngblood Priest (Trevor Jackson) may look like your average street hustler at first glance, but he is more than meets the eye. Priest is always thinking ahead and would prefer to solve problems in a nonviolent fashion. That being said, if a more extreme approach is needed, he’s not opposed to laying his hands on someone to get his point across. Flying below the radar is Priest’s preferred method of operation, but when actions out of his control cause a disruption in his low-key existence, all bets are off. Priest must outthink his adversaries if he is to escape these streets unharmed.
SuperFly shares many similar elements to movies like Scarface (1983), New Jack City (1991) and American Gangster (2007). There’s just something about drug movies that captures audiences’ attention. Director X uses this unexplainable romance with the drug world’s dark side to bring yet another movie full of bad individuals to the forefront. Trevor Jackson embraces the iconic role and milks it for all that it’s worth. Jason Mitchell, Michael Kenneth Williams, Esai Morales, Big Boi and Jennifer Morrison are some of the other actors that you may recognize. The chemistry is good as none of the characters are single-faceted. These characters show multiple layers of complexity. The various random insertions of humor keeps things a little loose which is good because it breaks things up a bit.
SuperFly hits all of the key points most fans look for in an entertaining movie. You’ll get action, romance, comedy and drama. Clocking in at around 108 minutes, the pace is pretty quick and there’s always something meaningful going on. What may seem a bit hokey at first glance, ends up being a pretty solid story once it gets going. Surprisingly the remake isn’t just some lazy retread that is a money grab. Even without your typical cornerstone big name actor, Director X does a great job of doing more with less. If you’re looking for a good time and some bang for your buck, SuperFly should be super fun as there is much to appreciate. Get your hustle on and see it in theaters now.
