It's hard to believe this film is 14 years old but it is! I'm not a fan of Lenny Henry much but I do quite like this comedy.
The film has a rather complicated plot but here's the main story. Basically, Miles Pope (Lenny Henry) is an actor who really wants to be doing well on the stage but finds himself entwined with the mob after finding out his producer Leland Carver (Frank Langella) has a criminal past. As part of his protection, he pretends to be different people including James Brown's brother. He also dons the make up and becomes an older white man. Not quite the acting he had in mind! The plot is based on an Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live sketch and Lenny takes the part Eddie Murphy played earlier.
There is a little bit of violence in this film - guns for instance - but not too much. Of course there's also swearing. There isn't any "gross out" humour here, I'm pleased to say but there is quite an uncomforable moment where Miles takes on the guise of a gay stereotype, which I didn't like. However, despite this, it is at times quite a thoughtful film - Miles is shocked to suddenly find himself being treated better just because he now looks like someone of a different race. It's a wry comment on life in the US, set against music from the likes of Gladys Knight and Ziggy Marley.
As for the make up, it's really good. Lenny said he walked down the street and said "hello" to his sister while she was over there during filming and she nearly died! She seriously didn't know it was him until he spoke.
Clearly, Lenny Henry was trying to become a bit more famous in the USA with this film and it didn't quite happen. The film has a good premise but doesn't quite work and there's no indication it would have been any better with Eddie Murphy in the title role.
"True Identity" is a certificate 15. I can recommend borrowing this first to see if you think it is worth buying (it's about £4 on Amazon). It is also sometimes on TV, albeit late at night.
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Packed with laughs from beginning to end, True Identity is an outrageously hip and ... more
uproariously funny comedy that you're sure to love! When a jetliner seems about to crash, a businessman reveals his secret mobster past to fast talking actor Miles Pope ...
![True Identity [DVD] [1991]](http://picnicb.ciao.com/uk/78520163.jpg "True Identity [DVD] [1991]")
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