:: Black Knight

This is the sort of film you might immediately think is not much good. It does fail to live up to any sort of expectation however. The viewer must sit through the manic excesses of Martin Lawrence, similar to what we might endure with Jim Carrey, for example. “Black Knight” is a true Martin Lawrence film.

Lawrence stars as Jamal walker, a self-centred, low-level worker at a run-down theme park. Like recent films, we get another look at a time-travel film where, in clearing the park’s fetid moat, Jamal falls in. He climbs out into 14th century England. Knights are in shining armour, a corrupt King (Kevin Conway) is on the throne, a revolution is imminent, and a damsel (Marsha Thomason) is in distress.

Jamal figures that he has landed into elaborate, and more important, medieval theme park in Los Angeles. Once he gets the picture, he becomes entangled with the revolutionary group. It’s up to him, with the help of unlikely ally Knolte (Tom Wilkinson), to try to lead the rebels to victory.

Nothing about all this is too funny though. The gags go over like a lead balloon and don’t come that frequently. The actors find it difficult, especially the fast-talking Lawrence. The only real attraction is the contrast between the times and the culture. Director Gil Junger is best known for television situation comedies such as “Ellen” and “Benson”. He does little here to elevate his status beyond those moderate shows.

It’s probably a reflection of Martin Lawrence’s style, that his films are becoming unwatchable. He likes to own the screen and believes he is the only funny person in a room of people. The only bright moment for him and the viewer in this film, though irrelevant to the story, is when he teaches a madrigal group how to get down and boogie. He generates much enthusiasm that it lights up the screen for a short time. Overall, “Black Knight” is difficult to endure and falls short of valued entertainment.

Screening on general release