The Breaks (1999) User Reviews (25)

Definitely not as bad as some people have said

[roddick-1 · 7/10 · 14 October 2005]

I had a feeling that "The Breaks" would have some bad reviews on IMDb, but it is good to see that it had some very high ones too because it is not a bad movie.

I think what turns people off is the opening sequence. The opening sequence in this movie is poorly acted and has some bad gags that could of turned out better if it was acted better. But don't have a negative attitude towards this movie forever after that. After the movie gets going it becomes funnier and the actors that did poorly in the beginning suddenly start doing well. And it is great for rest of the movie.

The jokes in this movie (bar the opening sequence) are very funny and sometimes very original. There are some good laugh out loud moments.

Acting wise it is pretty good (once again, bar the opening sequence). Some good cameos throughout too.

Overall it is not the funniest movie ever but it is very entertaining. It may be enjoyed more if you are a fan of hip hop and/or hood movies but I'm pretty sure someone not familiar with that whole scene will still enjoy this movie. A funny, original comedy.

Leave your brain at the door

[Almostgone · 7/10 · 7 May 2004]

This is one of those movies that's funny but only if you don't put too much thought into it.

"The Breaks" resembles so many other hood movies but it bears the strongest resemblance to "Friday". The plot revolves around Derrick (Mitch Mullany). His mama (Loretta Devine) is threatening to throw him out unless he returns that Sunday evening with a carton of milk. Sounds simple, right? Not when you're Derrick. He falls into all sorts of misadventures along the way and runs into all kinds of strange characters like an oiled up old man in a Speedo and a cowboy hat and two of the skankiest hookers you've ever seen.

It's definitely worth a rental. I own a copy of it myself. :)

Laughing my butt off!

[Miss_MiChiMi · 7/10 · 12 March 2005]

This movie is absolutely hilarious! It is from the same genre as Friday, about a typical day in the hood for Derrick, except Derrick isn't typical. Derrick is a white boy living in the hood. He was raised by a black family from early childhood and he identifies himself as black, although he is a pale Irish child.

I have to say, from the very beginning, which was funny as hell and quite creative, to the end, I was laughing. This movie is not dull at all. Mullany has a knack for creating entertaining comedy and keeping the audience amused, even if the plot can get outrageous at points. This is definitely one to watch.

How can I help you my young..........Your white.

[Skywalker02 · 16 July 2001]

All he has to do is come home with a carton of milk.

"The Breaks" was one of the funniest movies that I've seen in a long time. It's the story of Derrick King (Mitch Mullany). Derrick , is an Irish immagrant who is raised by a black family in Compton. Derricks' mother finally gets fed up with his behavior as a brainless, thoughtless ,sex-crazed slacker that she kicks him out of the house unless he can successfully come home with a quart of milk.

His holy quest for calcium, he runs into every kind of obstacle imaginable in the south central projects.

This film is laugh a minute. Done in the true spirit of films like "Friday" "CB-4" and "Don't Be a Menace to Society While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood" it keeps the lauphs comming. The film spoofs scenes from "Pulp Fiction" "Good Will Hunting" and "Good Times"

This is not a film for the squemish. Those who cringe at crude humor my not enjoy this film. For everyone else, rent it today, you wont be disappointed.

The Breaks

[pmscotland34 · 6/10 · 29 June 2012]

What can I say that has not already been said? The movie was well written,acted.I loved it not a bad thing to say about it seen it at least a dozen times and never gets less funny..too bad Mitch Mullany is no longer with us to write us a possible sequel or even share more of his brilliance with the world...I thought the guy was great in the Wayans should have used him more,hell they didn't even get what they wanted from the network,anyway he was funny great cast..Bob Marley from boondock saints the gay gay with the butter,you had pinky from the Friday movies..great stuff..and that pool oh my god that was nasty as hell.

A great ghetto movie!!!!!

[XianXi · 10/10 · 22 August 2005]

I despise the 5.5 that this movie got. I totally loved this movie, it had everything that makes a ghetto movie funny and it was done very well. Mitch Mullany plays Derrick who is a white boy who keeps having bad luck with his "fathers" at an early age and finally ends up with a loving black family. The story follows Derrick through a typical day in the hood: Gangs, Police, Mama, Girls, Job and his friends. This movie is very entertaining in my opinion but you might need to be able to relate to the material or just be open minded. If you find swimming in a yellow pool to escape a coming out of the closet gang leader with your friend who nearly gets sodomized by an Eastern African artifact pulp fiction style while a screaming homosexual smears butter on your back then you would love this movie. I was looking forward to Mitch writing another funny story like this but haven't seen him do anything except have a short cameo in the beginning of "The Sweetest Thing". I give this movie a 3 out of 4 stars for what it is.

This is not funny

[reewing · 1/10 · 23 November 2000]

This is the least funny movie I have ever seen. There is not one laugh in this entire picture. Screaming instead of talking, in and of itself, is not funny. I almost laughed at a "special effects" "car wreck" scene not because it was funny but because it was so poorly done.

Up there with Friday, CB4, Don't be a Menace To Society...

[axeman808 · 8/10 · 8 June 2001]

A funny, funny, funny movie... It's ALMOST a typical "day in the hood" comedy, except it revolves around a White Irishman, raised by a Black family in Compton... Derrick ("White Mike" from "Martin"), accompanied by his best friend Chris ("Cole" from "Martin") adventure around the neighborhood, chased by Cops and Thugs, in search of a carton of milk... There are not only several side-stories to enjoy here, developing snippets of ideas from other movies ("I'm Gonna Get You Sucka", "Friday", "Pulp Fiction"), but there are countless guest stars from other "day in the hood" type movies, as well as from the rap, funk, and basketball worlds... If you like Friday, CB4, Fear Of A Black Hat, Don't Be A Menace To Society, Who's The Man, etc...You owe it to yourself to check out "The Breaks".

I give it an 8/10 (with only Fear Of A Black Hat getting a higher score from me in this genre)

The Breaks Suc#s

[kjm · 2/10 · 14 January 2002]

A white view of Black culture, this string of unfunny, racist cliches > makes me wonder what the actors who accepted these one-dimensional roles were thinking. The whole production was a mess, and the slimy parody of Tarantino was just idiotic.

Along the lines of the movie, Friday

[BlackRio · 8/10 · 21 February 2001]

After waiting weeks to locate the movie, I was not disappointed in finally getting to see it. I was laughing from the beginning to the end of that movie. I would definitely recommend this one to all of my friends who like this brand of comedy.

I've had more entertaining root canal

[cwhyel · 1/10 · 18 October 2003]

About as funny as a bag full of dead kittens.

Crude, latently racist and filled with profiled stereotypes, the vulgar-laden effort at parody took failing miserably to new heights.

If you want to see an entertaining tale of a white boy who thinks he is of another pigmentation-catch Danny Hoch's "Jails, Hospitals & Hip-hop," or "White Boys." Far superior.

Mitch Mullany should have taken a month off to consider this abysmal effort then given up the business immediately.

I only watched it on TV because I was laid up in bed with a back injury and the remote fell out of reach. Thankfully, I was able to fall asleep.

Its all good

[richieturtles · 8/10 · 2 February 2006]

A bag full of dead kittens? Sorry, no... while this movie is pretty stupid,crass and vulgar its also funny as hell.....If your into that sort of thing. Which i am. The story is about 1 guys day and a chain of events that i found to be hysterical...crass,tasteless and vulgar yes...but hysterical none the less. If you like ironic humor, if you like what i call tough luck comedy's (like "theres something about Mary, or "the mask" or "innerspace")then you should like this movie. I think its good and that you should watch it if you can find it.....just so you know cable edits the movie for content so you might want to check out the real version of the movie from a video store

Funny funny movie

[DunnDeeDaGreat · 2 September 2002]

The Breaks is the third movie to come out which shows white kids in with black culture. Mich Mullany is great in the lead role as Derrick it's like he resurrected his character White Mike from The Wayans Bros for the big screen. All in all a funny film.

The White Guy Hood Movie

[torrascotia · 5/10 · 24 March 2024]

Even after being around hip hop culture since the 80's this is a movie I had never heard anything about until now. And I thought I had caught most hood movies from that era.

This is another supposed fish out of water comedy, with the main guy having been taken in by a black family after loosing his white parents along the way. So this isn't exactly a white guy who thinks he's black movie like The Jerk, more a white guy who adopts some black mannerisms to fit in.

What you will get out of this comedy will be related to what you know about hip hop. Cameos from rappers such as Yoyo, Exhibit, E40 and even George Clinton will only matter if you know these people. The humour is probably more crude than the majority of hood movies and there is the usual attempts at sending up black movie tropes. Again which will only work if you know the references. I am not sure Tarantino will be particularly happy with this film as it rips off the gimp dungeon scene from Pulp Fiction pretty blatantly. There is also a weird scene with the main character as an Irish child is seen wearing a kilt, which is Scottish not Irish traditional wear. But the strangest part of all is the main star. If you check the cast list he isnt even mentioned. No photograph, nothing. And he wrote it. Is there something I am missing? I originally thought the actor was Adam Baldwin, he looks so similar, but turns out he was a comedian who did stuff with the Wayans and died in his 30's. While I get that this movie was a "black movie" the fact the main actor doesn't seem to be getting the basic respect in terms of billing seems very off. An average to poor quality hood movie which seems to disrespecting its star for whatever reason that isn't made clear.

Great Film

[BIGbenlee · 9/10 · 30 July 2004]

From the same sub-genre as the Friday Trilogy (Ice Cube, Mike Epps), comes this story of a railroaded Irish boy who ends up being part of a black family living in the hood.

Directed by Eric Meza (Director of House Party 3, and the hit TV series Smart Guy), The Breaks is up there with the best of its genre and should be better known than it is.

Overall, the plot and the acting is a top notch quality and this film should not be dismissed lightly. Mitch Mullany (The Sweetest Thing) makes his leading role debut and totally nails it.

I found this film for only £3.99 at my local HMV. BARGAIN!

Funny As Hell

[Cousinjamie · 8/10 · 27 April 2006]

This movie is non stop funny. From Beginning to end it follows "derrik" as he stumbles his way across every "growing up/ life in the hood" movie satire. Think about the memorable scenes from boys in the hood, juice, and house party. Then add a "White Guy" into it. The best part is, that he is not pretending to be black, he is himself and that's where the comedy comes in. If you are a fan of BET's comic view, then you'll consider this an all-star cast, but if you are not familiar with BET then be prepared to be introduced to some of the funniest Unknowns in the world. Either way... you will watch this movie over and over again.

Great Movie Great Moments, Some Moments Feel Like Been There Done That

[callmefurby89-1 · 10/10 · 23 April 2007]

The Breaks Is A Hilarious Movie, I mean it depends on your sense of humor, the great thing is that it's funny for both blacks and whites. and it's not racist like some other movies...though at some times it is very stereotypical.

Derrick Is the perfect character in the perfect setting. what more can i say i loved this movie if you haven't seen it, watch it. I showed it to 4 of my friends who had never even heard about it and they loved it. two thumbs up, five stars, should have won some kind of an award...joking but yes its worth watching i mean everything but the part in jail when Derrick "has to have some funk","we got to have some funk" that part was just like huh?

This Movie Had Everyone In It!

[leighabc123 · 10/10 · 6 July 2002]

This was another funny movie when a "white" man tried to be black. It was so funny to see Mitch play someone else besides "Nick Freno." (Spoiler Ahead!) But the great actors and actresses did not get enough scenes in this movie! It was not good just seeing Loretta Devine, Darius Mc Cray, and Lamont Bentley just in the beginning and the end of the movie. And Yo Yo only was on the screen for less than a minute. And they did not show enough Paula Jai Parker! There were so many jokes in this movie that I couldn't keep up with them!

Totally hilarious

[amire · 11 August 2000]

This is another of those gems that gets no attention or box office at the theaters. Don't ask me why; it's funnier and more original than most of the junk out in wide release. If you like wacky comedies in the style of "Office Space" and "Kicked in the Head," check this one out. Not since "Friday" has there been as unique an interpretation of life in the> 'hood.

Mitch Mullany gives a nice performance as an Irish kid adopted and raised by a black family in L.A. He also wrote the script, and did a good job there too. This movie has a style all its own. Rent it and have a good time.

Oh yeah... it's funny

[CrispyFood · 9/10 · 8 September 2001]

This film will at first seem silly, if not downright stupid. But in actuality, it's is very clever and funny. The entire film is packed w/ laughs, and societal jokes that everyone can enjoy. Mitch Mullany is a genius. I give it an A.

One of the funniest movies I've ever seen.

[iangrushka · 2 August 2004]

This is one of those rare movies that I can watch over and over again. Me and a guy at work got to talking about it and I basically was under the (of course) false pretense that I would never run across anyone that had ever seen it and liked it. From beginning to end this movie will have you cracking up, (spoiler) especially the part where Mitch (the main character, and a white guy) jumps a fence running from the cops, and ends up at a kill whitey meeting, only to yell "WHAT? YALL ARE HAVING A KILL WHITEY MEETING WITHOUT ME?"

Heheh.

Definitely one to watch! 9/10!

Two glocks up in the 'hood

[ddsilva · 10/10 · 14 July 2001]

As a so called 'cracka' growing up in the 'hood of South Central as a youth I found it very easy to relate to the trials and tribulations of our young protagonist Derrick. The racial injusitces and daily whuppin's that he underwent benchmark a larger problem in this society that we call "Amerikkka." It's a travesty that a young melanin-deficient fool can't get the propers that he so righteosuly deserves. I especially empathized with his plight during the tour de force of the film: The "dick statue" speech. While tongue in cheek, I felt Derrick embodying the pain of a repressed nation of white boys "keepin' it real" from the mountains of Virginia to the trailer parks of Wyoming. And that poor lost 12 year-old negro. What was the deal with him? A shoddy plot contrivance in an otherwise sterling montage to the values of society today. I too feel the pain of swimming in the pool of a collective 200 individuals urine(s). And who doesn't know what it's like to have four brutha's chasin' they ass ready to cap yo' bitchass over a simple misunderstandin' relatin' to some bitch-ass triznick. By the way, that one ho' with the love sore all up on her mouth? That beyeyeyeyahhchchch was fine yo!!! In summary, a motion picture well worth yo' hard earned scrilla ... especially if you be colored vanilla. I'd like to give some shout outs to all my former potnas still rollin' with the game in the SCLA. South Central Los Angeles foo'. Peace to Lil' Dap, Big Pookie, Tripod, Snake-Dog, and the rest of my bruthas in lockdown. I be out.

very funny

[brettster76 · 10/10 · 4 February 2003]

I saw this movie for the first time the other day had to get it imported from overseas since it is not here mitch mullany was great being a big fan of his this is a good movie laugh after laugh my parents were even laughing which is rare worth seeing

Extremely funny

[ziggi211 · 3 July 2000]

This movie was one of the funniest I have seen in awhile. It's hard to believe the whole movie took place in one day. With Derricks one-track mind, a simple task to get a carton of milk turns into a crazy ride into the hood. I could have died laughing. It was a great movie.