Hilarious in Hindsight:
The Movie.
Well, we should probably be a little more comprehensive than that. The party candidates for president and vice-president were killed when
their planes crashed into each other. Senator Bill Arnot (James Rebhorn), believing they have no chance of winning and wanting to set himself up as next election's favorite, decides to put Mays Gilliam (Chris Rock), alderman of the 9th Ward in Washington D.C., on the ticket. The idea is that Mays will do well enough to make the party look good without hurting Arnot's chances. Unfortunately, once Mays decides to run things his way, he does do well.
Too well. Much of what follows is Arnot trying to undermine Mays while presidential favorite Brian Lewis (Nick Searcy) underestimates Mays to the very end.
Tropes
- Be Yourself: Mayes' campaign takes off after he stops trying to be what's expected of him and runs the campaign his way. It helps that they were trying to keep him from being popular.
- Catch Phrase: It's an election movie, so it's to be expected.
- Lewis has "God bless America, and no place else." His campaign slogan is "Vote Brian Lewis: it's your last chance."
- Mayes has "That ain't right!" as his slogan.
- Contrived Coincidence: Mayes only gets a shot because the presidential and vice-presidential candidates die when their planes crash into each other.
- Gone Horribly Right: Arnot picks Mayes because he thinks he's capable of running a good race without actually winning. Except he runs a really good race.
- Idiot Ball: Mayes nearly derails his campaign when he assumes a cameraman isn't filming him, and thus says something he wouldn't say on the air.
- Product Placement: Yes, Fubu does, in fact, make formalwear.
- Running Gag:
- "We're the government; we can do anything."
- The Imagine Spot of Mayes being assassinated at a podium.
- "Security!" Mayes' ex-girlfriend is then dragged off with the exact same scream each time. Then it happens to Arnot, still with the same scream.
- Brian Lewis has been vice president for eight years, is a war hero, and is Sharon Stone's cousin.
- The guy with the demo CD trying to get a Presidential candidate and his running mate to promote his music.
- Rushmore Refacement: Mayes' head is added to the lineup, complete with shiny tooth.
- Screw the Money, I Have Rules!: Mays declines a campaign contribution from beverage company whose latest brand of malt liquor is clearly marketed to encourage underage drinking.
- Springtime for Hitler: Party head Bill Arnott chooses Gilliam as their replacement presidential candidate because it will win minority votes for the party and set him up for a win when he runs for president during the next election. He's not at all prepared for the possibility that Gilliam might win...
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