Baadasssss!

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Baadasssss! ★★★½ How to Get the Man's Foot Outta Your Asss! 2003 (R)

Mario Van Peebles' fictionalized biopic of his father Melvin's efforts to get his influential indie film “Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song” (the forerunner of the blaxploitation genre) made. Melvin (Mario, who also directed, co-wrote, and produced) is plagued with money and health problems, union troubles and lack of studio interest. Well-made and highly entertaining film was adapted from Melvin's “making of” book. Mario honors his father's work without over-romaticizing the often-imperfect man behind it. 108m/C DVD . US Mario Van Peebles, Nia Long, David Alan Grier, Ossie Davis, Terry Crews, Rainn Wilson, Joy Bryant, Saul Rubinek, T.K. Carter, Paul Rodriguez, Vincent Schiavelli, Khleo Thomas, Len Lesser, Sally Struthers, Adam West, Glenn Plummer, Khalil Kain, Pamela Gordon, Joseph Culp, Karimah Westbrook, Ralph Martin, Robert Peters, Wesley Jonathan, John Singleton; D: Mario Van Peebles; W: Mario Van Peebles, Dennis Haggerty; C: Robert Primes; M: Tyler Bates.