I Got the Hook-Up (1998)

A lot of fun.

It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

If you were a middle school student when this movie came out, it was probably one of your favorites. Looking back on it now, it doesn't hold up very well, although it is pretty representative of the kinds of movies that were popular at the time.Two street hustlers, Black and Blue, convince a delivery man to leave a shipment of mobile phones with them. They get a friend to help manipulate the phone company so they can activate and sell the phones on the street. Their business gets them in trouble with a rival gangster. I don't actually remember how it all resolves, but I remember thinking that the movie was basically what is known as a "vanity project" centered around Master P. P's movies didn't end up making huge amounts in the theaters, but he could probably still be making them is he wanted to. He was definitely a star and very well known. The humor is pretty crude and offensive with plenty of negative stereotypes, but that is kind of the point. It was made to be exploitive, even if it was black filmmakers exploiting perceptions about their own culture. My opinion was that it was mildly entertaining to watch, and there were even one or two likable characters, but as I said, I don't even remember how it ended. If your are between the ages of 12 and 15, you might still find it hilarious.

I am not a fan of Master P's music or movies, but I would rather sit through one of his CD's for an hour than be forced to watch his cinematic exploits. When I think of his movies, one of the titles sticks out, Foolish. This sums up what all of his movies are. The acting is terrible, the scripts are lame, confusing, non existent, or a combination of all three. He just cranked out junk to add money to his growing empire. When a producer casts his family, friends, and label mates in all his films, this should be a clue it definitely won't be nominated for an Oscar.Granted, AJ Johnson is funny in most of his roles, but when given nothing to work with, what can you do? Master P thinks he is the next Ice Cube. Wake up call, Ice Cube has talent, something Master P seriously lacks. I think the movie viewing public will be safe for a while from being tortured by another No Limit movie production considering almost everyone on the label is either facing some type of criminal charge or serving time for being found guilty on charges brought against them. As long as video cameras and crew are not allowed inside prisons, we should be OK for at least 5-7 years.

I kept asking myself, "they actually made a film this bad??!". I didn't laugh one time. The worst acting, the dumbest story, a veritable plethora of ignorance. It appeared that they had no ending for the movie, so one of the main characters mugs for the camera and says "I think somebody just shot me in da ASSSSSSSSS!!! It's like they just ran out of film and said, "Yeah..we'll end it here".

Somebody please stop letting some of these rappers write scripts then get a hold of film stock! Nothing but a collection of images that play up negative stereotypes about rappers and African-Americans in general. I feel sorry for those of you who sat through this crap in a theater. If you haven't rented it, DON'T. If it comes on cable, change the channel to a bad network movie of the week. That will have more substance than Master P's sorry efforts.