Superfly (2018 Review)

Superfly is Super “Meh.”

Superfly is a film that probably set itself up for failure from the get-go. A remake of one of the most well known and beloved blaxploitation films of all time has a lot to live up to even if those expectations are just for the sake of nostalgia. So, for the sake of this review of the new Superfly, I’m going to completely ignore the original. For the sake of due diligence though, I will say that the remake abandons the blaxploitation elements the original was so famous for while still managing to capture the sense of style and charisma it had. However, is that a good thing?

Superfly tells the story of Priest (Trevor Jackson) a hungry street criminal who believes that knowledge is power when it comes to his quest to reach the top. While Priest might see the game as chess instead of checkers, he’s in a volatile world that still subscribes to the old testament style of “an eye for an eye.” Ambition is the only way to win in a world full of showboating criminals who believe that a lion’s mane is his way of telling predators to “back off.” This mentality though just goes to show how easy it’s going to be for Priest to outfox all his enemies as he sets his sights on his biggest score to date.

There are plenty of issues when it comes to this remake. For one thing, it is absolutely gratuitous when it comes to its characters. Many of the criminals that Priest encounters throughout the film flaunt their wealth in disgusting displays of power. In the first few minutes, Priest goes to collect a debt from a rapper who is throwing an extravagant party filled with drugs, girls, and cars that cost more than most houses. The thing is that the rapper is actually broke. So much so that he can’t dream of paying Priest back. This becomes a recurring theme as many of the characters follow this mold. This though proves to be Priests strength. In a world where the criminals wear neon signs pointing to them, he remains unnoticed thanks to his restraint. Instead of buying mansions and imported sports cars, he invests in business fronts to launder his money and raise his social status.  However, the gratuitous lifestyles that his peers subscribe to resonate throughout Superfly.

Director X is best known for making memorable music videos for some of the top artists in the industry. There’s no arguing that he doesn’t have a cinematic eye and it’s not uncommon for music video directors to make the leap to the big screen. However, his take on Superfly is a bit disjointed. He invests more in moments in the film and not the overall film itself. This means that there are plenty of memorable sequences, but the movie tends to drag hard an awful lot. In fact, it actually becomes rather boring during the sequences that it attempts to do “character development.” Really there’s not a lot to these characters in this film, especially since they use their blood money to create personas to define themselves. In other words, the characters wear their identities on their sleeves for much of Superfly, or rather they have it tattooed on their faces.

Trevor Jackson might have the look down pat for this new incarnation of Superfly. However, his performance is flat at the best of times. In fact, the only scenes he seems to feel natural in are the ones he shares with Jason Mitchell, who has one of the more impressive filmographies of all the cast. The two really play off each other well and their chemistry drives home the fact that they have an unbreakable brotherly bond. However, it’s Michael Kenneth Williams who manages to outshine everyone as Scatter. A criminal who knows that if you look like you’re at the top, then everyone will try to prove something by taking you out. That’s why he keeps a low profile like Priest throughout the film, something that makes him truly threatening.

Superfly has plenty of style and flair, but it lacks real substance. The writing works well when there’s a dialogue, but the monologues throughout it are heavy-handed and lack the grit necessary for anyone to take them seriously. The lavish lifestyles create a sense of resentment for these characters who claim to be from the streets but have no idea what that even means anymore. Even Priest feels like he only has eyes for the game. Those close to him matter little in the grand scheme of things, but is that because the script sucks or because Trevor Jackson just can’t sell it?

I’m never that excited to see remakes hit theaters because I feel like they try too much to do something new while still living up to invisible expectations. While there have been a few semi-decent remakes and reboots this year, Superfly is not one of them. Director X and Alex Tse would have been better off tackling an original story with elements of Superfly, rather than tying one arm behind their backs with a remake. That being said, it’s not a god awful film. However, it’s one that solely relies on style and flair. It lacks the substance that would have really made it something spectacular. However, it is also a movie that has a specific audience in mind and I think that audience will enjoy it a great deal more than I did.