Sorry, this movie sucks

Just what I expected

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

This is a '87 comedy, I like much better, than I thought I would. The comedy chooses to take it's own path, on it's important subject, making for a much more entertaining one, where drama's thrown in too, with makes it one, with a few flavors, where a moment never dulls in this. It is a very unjustly criticized film, although as Tommy Howell, darkening his skin, he would be made out for an Indian, not a real black man, first off the bat. Howell's likable performance, is that of a rich kid, who's dream is to go to Harvard Law, only his parent's cut off his tuition, so he has to look for sources, elsewhere, where he finally resorts to going black and getting down. The film takes a few jabs at black people, and Tommy Howe'll's rendition of Prince and Stevie Wonder are priceless. This is a talented actor, a kid ahead of his talent. He falls for a black woman (Rae Dawn Chong in a really good mature performance) where the unexpected, lighter romantic moments, add more layers to it's originality,and work beautifully. He also beds a long haired hottie (Melora Hardin) her rich father played here, by would you believe Leslie Nielsen, who later punches Howell one later, in the gulliver. The movie takes digs too at basketballers, Howell quite popular on the team in one sense, you would say. Ayre Gross was fun as Howell's best friend, who accompanies him to the campus. The court defending scene, near the end, after Howell was busted was a very smart idea, as others in this smartly written script. Okay yes, it could of been taken as a more serious comedy, but it wouldn't be as entertaining, as this is a comedy that stands on it's own, and was a good opening to let in the near year that was '87. Still today, it'll be, as much fun as it was, back then. That title soundtrack rocks too, like many other things in this entertaining, smartly approached, set out film. Highly recommended.

Mark doesn't expect any problems in going to college, he and his friend have reserved places in Harvard and his parents have the money to pay for his education.But his father's psychiatrist advises him to go on vacation in Hawaii instead of spending more money on his son. Since Mark wants to keep his lifestyle, including a fancy car and a flat shared with his friend, he seeks financial support. The only foundation which still accepts applications is for blacks only. With lots of tanning pills he sets out to Harvard....It must have sounded good on paper. The high concept plot sounds okay, but the execution is handled so poorly, it cannot help but be offensive, even though it doesn't want to be.After the gimmick wears off, it's your regular fish out of water comedy, which has so many troupes, there should be a horn go off every time one is mentioned.Howells is good, but this film ruined his career. Remember him in The Amazing Spider- Man? Didn't think so.It has its moments, but it doesn't hold up like most eighties movies do.its a shame, because done in the right hands, it can be funny.....See Tropic Thunder.A waste, and I feel sorry for Howell.

Loads of fun, entertaining from start to finish (don't over-think the plot, characters and so on, just enjoy it, PC or not). Thomas C. Howell plays it excellent, as does Arey Gross. And James Earl Jones is, as always, in a league of his own! Even Julia Dreyfuss makes a memorable performance and Rae Dawn Chong also holds her own as well. Soul man has that special some-some that makes a movie great; A small ensemble of characters, who were eloquently cast, a straight forward story and a the right mix of comic relief. So go ahead and enjoy, you won't regret it. Keeps getting better and better every time round. Mark Watson - come on down!" :)

This movie was disgusting. C Thomas Howell was sorry. Oh, and could they find a more non black woman than Rae Dong Chong. I think if the casted an actress who excepts who she is would have given this piece of crap of movie a little more weight. The whole concept of a white boy taking pills to turn his skin brown to become black is absolutely absurd. I don't know one white kid in America who would do such a thing no matter how desperate they became. The racial jokes, police following him and the dating my white daughter thing is only the tip of the iceberg as far as racism goes. These examples were very light. There should be a law against making trash like this. Oh, by the way, what the heck was James Earl Jones doing in this toilet floater?