Gangster movies are an incredibly useful media artifact for examining the fraught relationship between historically marginalized groups and the myth of the American dream. 1972’s super cool blaxploitation picture “Super Fly” was a groundbreaking entry into the gangster genre, a bold depiction lionizing the life of a drug dealer, Youngblood Priest (played by Ron O’Neal). With the help of Curtis Mayfield’s addictive theme song, “Pusherman,” “Super Fly” became a cultural icon. But can the story be adapted to the world of 2018?
Mysterious music video director Director X gives it his best effort in his Hollywood studio directing debut, “SuperFly.” With a script by screenwriter Alex Tse and hot young star Trevor Jackson as Priest, “SuperFly,” now set in Atlanta, tries to be fly. But lacking the grit and shock factor of the original, this version is just corny and dated.
Part of that is a leading man problem. The gorgeous Jackson is just too pretty to be Priest. He’s lacking the gravitas O’Neal brought to the role, even if he does sport a permed pompadour in tribute to the original Priest’s relaxed ‘do (the other characters mercilessly clown him for his hair).
“SuperFly” follows the original’s plot structure, hitting almost every gangster movie trope along the way, because “Super Fly” helped to establish those tropes so long ago. It’s one last deal before getting out of the game. Even though Priest appears to be about 23 years old, he’s ready for retirement, especially with so much heat from rival gang Snow Patrol, a crew of thugs always decked out in all white (apparently they’re also big fans of the 2007 emo ballad “Chasing Cars”).