Dave Rice

After watching "They Cloned Tyrone" in its entirety, I was profoundly disconcerted. It struck me as one of the most flagrantly racist films in recent memory, taking derogatory racial stereotypes about both Black and white individuals and repackaging them as part of a racially driven conspiracy theory. It's a great irony that the film, which appears to have missed its mark entirely, has received such effusive praise. It attempts to satirize racism, but instead, it ends up cementing harmful racial stereotypes instead of contesting or dismantling them. Rather than offering insightful commentary, it propagates a disturbing narrative that reduces individuals to racial caricatures. When skillfully executed, comedy can be an influential medium to confront societal wrongs and absurdities. It can stimulate laughter at otherwise painful realities, thereby fostering conversations that may lead to understanding and eventually healing. "Blazing Saddles" is a perfect example of this—it confronted racism head-on, using humor and irreverence to provide a critical and thought-provoking perspective on societal issues. However, "They Cloned Tyrone" seems to have missed this mark. Instead of poking fun at racism, the film appears to be caught in a cycle of replicating and reinforcing racial stereotypes under the disguise of science fiction. The narrative comes across as a clumsy attempt at satire, resembling the viewpoint of a disgruntled teenager more than a seasoned storyteller well-versed in the complexities of racial discourse. Many viewers praise the film as a comedic masterpiece, a notion that I find deeply concerning. The film seems to be overly exalted, akin to the hypothetical situation of "Basketball" receiving an Oscar. These instances signal a worrying trend of misplaced accolades and misunderstood humor. It's vital to distinguish true satire from what merely perpetuates damaging stereotypes. Only then can we truly value and learn from films that aim to critique and improve our society.