Who's the Man?
(1993)
R | 89 mins | Comedy | 23 April 1993
Cast:
Doctor Dré, Ed Lover, Badja Djola [ More ]Director:
Ted DemmeWriters:
Seth Greenland, Doctor Dre, Ed LoverProducers:
Charles Stettler, Maynell ThomasCinematographer:
Adam KimmelEditor:
Jeffrey WolfProduction Designer:
Ruth AmmonProduction Companies:
New Line Cinema , Tin Pan Apple, de Passe EntertainmentOn 24 Sep 1992, Long Beach Press-Telegram announced that New Line Cinema had signed a low-budget motion picture deal with Ed Lover and Dr. Dré of the MTV network music video program, “Yo! MTV Raps.” The film, referred to as Who’s the Man, marked the feature film directorial debut of Ted Demme, nephew of Academy Award-winning director, Jonathan Demme. An article in the 19 Nov 1992 DV reported that Lover and Dré suggested Demme, a former schoolmate and producer of Yo! MTV Raps, after the project was assembled by the duo’s manager, Charlie Stettler, at Tin Pan Apple. As a result, the 28 Sep 1992 Var announced that New Line decided to extend its first-look agreement with de Passe Entertainment. Various sources estimated a budget of $4--$5 million.
According to a 27 Oct 1992 HR production chart, the six-week location shoot began the previous day in New York City. Controversy arose when the 23 Nov 1992 issue of New York magazine reported that the production hired homeless people and drug addicts from the New York City borough of Harlem to appear as background actors, who were then underfed and denied their full promised payment after lengthy workdays. Although publicist Terrie Williams insisted that the production adhered to all Screen Actors Guild (SAG) regulations, the claims prompted a guild investigation.
Reviews were mixed. According to the 26 Apr 1993 DV, Who’s the Man? opened at number two at the box-office, taking in a gross of $5 million.
End credits state: “Special Thanks to: The personnel of the New York City Mayor’s ...
On 24 Sep 1992, Long Beach Press-Telegram announced that New Line Cinema had signed a low-budget motion picture deal with Ed Lover and Dr. Dré of the MTV network music video program, “Yo! MTV Raps.” The film, referred to as Who’s the Man, marked the feature film directorial debut of Ted Demme, nephew of Academy Award-winning director, Jonathan Demme. An article in the 19 Nov 1992 DV reported that Lover and Dré suggested Demme, a former schoolmate and producer of Yo! MTV Raps, after the project was assembled by the duo’s manager, Charlie Stettler, at Tin Pan Apple. As a result, the 28 Sep 1992 Var announced that New Line decided to extend its first-look agreement with de Passe Entertainment. Various sources estimated a budget of $4--$5 million.
According to a 27 Oct 1992 HR production chart, the six-week location shoot began the previous day in New York City. Controversy arose when the 23 Nov 1992 issue of New York magazine reported that the production hired homeless people and drug addicts from the New York City borough of Harlem to appear as background actors, who were then underfed and denied their full promised payment after lengthy workdays. Although publicist Terrie Williams insisted that the production adhered to all Screen Actors Guild (SAG) regulations, the claims prompted a guild investigation.
Reviews were mixed. According to the 26 Apr 1993 DV, Who’s the Man? opened at number two at the box-office, taking in a gross of $5 million.
End credits state: “Special Thanks to: The personnel of the New York City Mayor’s Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting; The members of the Special Operations Division of the New York City Police Department; MTV: Music Television; Bob Friedman, President, New Line Television; J. Lee Friedman; Jeremy Koch; Joey Violante; Craig Seli; Hypnotic Hats, Inc.; Zydeco Group; Cross Colors/Kari Kani; Starter; L.P.I. Sportswear; Major Damage; Van Grak, Inc.; Rapp Style.”
Several cast members are listed differently in opening and end credits: Salt ‘N Pepa are credited separately as “Cheryl ‘Salt’ James” and “Pepa”; members of the musical group House of Pain are listed as Everlast, Danny Boy O’Connor, and Leor Dimant; Andre Blake is listed as “Andre B. Blake”; Todd I is listed as “Todd-I”; Melle Mel is “Grand Master Melle Mel”; while B-Real is the only member of Cypress Hill credited onscreen. Jam Master Jay of the group Run DMC is credited simply as “Jay.”
Stunt player Gregg Smrz is credited onscreen as “Greg Srmz,” and accounting assistant Darryl A. Smith is credited as “Darry A. Smith.”
Shamed by their reputation as “the worst barbers in Harlem,” Ed Lover and Dr. Dré are forced to seek new employment and reluctantly enlist in the New York City police force. Despite their attempts to fail police academy training, Lover and Dré miraculously pass their final exam and begin working as patrolmen. Meanwhile, landlord Lionel Douglas pressures the duo’s former boss, Nick Crawford, to sell the barbershop to a condominium developer named Demetrius. Hoping to preserve the neighborhood, Nick refuses, and organizes protests against gentrification. As a result, Demetrius sends his henchmen to murder Nick and blow up the barbershop. At Nick’s memorial, Lionel and his niece, Teesha Braxton, inform Lover and Dré that they have inherited the business. After discovering Demetrius’s plan to access an oil reserve under the barbershop building site, Lover and Dré present their suspicions to their police captain, who suspends them from the force. Following a tip from Teesha, the pair investigate a warehouse full of weapons in Brooklyn, where they are cornered by Demetrius’s hitmen. Lover and Dré are rescued by their mentor at the academy, Demetrius is arrested, and Lionel admits he killed Nick. Despite being promoted to become the youngest detectives on the force, Lover and Dré quit police work to reopen the barbershop. At the building site, Dré shoots at a rat and strikes oil. Three months later, Lover and Dré are lauded for their hip and trendy haircuts, making them the most popular barbers in the ...
Shamed by their reputation as “the worst barbers in Harlem,” Ed Lover and Dr. Dré are forced to seek new employment and reluctantly enlist in the New York City police force. Despite their attempts to fail police academy training, Lover and Dré miraculously pass their final exam and begin working as patrolmen. Meanwhile, landlord Lionel Douglas pressures the duo’s former boss, Nick Crawford, to sell the barbershop to a condominium developer named Demetrius. Hoping to preserve the neighborhood, Nick refuses, and organizes protests against gentrification. As a result, Demetrius sends his henchmen to murder Nick and blow up the barbershop. At Nick’s memorial, Lionel and his niece, Teesha Braxton, inform Lover and Dré that they have inherited the business. After discovering Demetrius’s plan to access an oil reserve under the barbershop building site, Lover and Dré present their suspicions to their police captain, who suspends them from the force. Following a tip from Teesha, the pair investigate a warehouse full of weapons in Brooklyn, where they are cornered by Demetrius’s hitmen. Lover and Dré are rescued by their mentor at the academy, Demetrius is arrested, and Lionel admits he killed Nick. Despite being promoted to become the youngest detectives on the force, Lover and Dré quit police work to reopen the barbershop. At the building site, Dré shoots at a rat and strikes oil. Three months later, Lover and Dré are lauded for their hip and trendy haircuts, making them the most popular barbers in the neighborhood.
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