Film
David E. Talbert's: A Fool and His Money
A comedy about a working-class family who wins money and discovers that sudden wealth attracts every relative, friend, and stranger with their hand out. It's a broad, theatrical ensemble piece with roots in stage comedy—loud, warm, and preoccupied with how money tests loyalty and exposes character. For fans of community-centered humor and David E. Talbert's particular brand of Black comedy tradition.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like a sharp, good-natured comedy about money, greed and family loyalty, where the jokes land because the characters feel recognizable and the mess is funny rather than cruel.
Skip it if you want a tight, fast plot or subtle humour; this one leans on broad, stagey performances and sitcom-style pacing that can feel repetitive after a while.
What it asks of you: Settle in for a full film of loud, crowded scenes and few quiet moments, so bring patience for big performances rather than a slow, watchful build.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Friday1995
A hangout comedy about two days in the lives of neighbors in South Central LA. It's funny without trying too hard, built on character and chemistry rather than loud plot. Ice Cube and Chris Tucker are magnetic together.
But The humor is very specific to its time and place; if broad comedy about everyday life doesn't appeal to you, there's no plot to fall back on.
House Party 21991
Kid 'n Play throw a party while their parents are away. It's pure joy—energetic, inventive, genuinely hilarious, and features some of the most fun dancing ever filmed. The movie loves its characters.
But It's very much of its era, and if you're looking for narrative complexity rather than sustained good vibes, you'll feel the thinness.
The Best Man1999
A wedding weekend brings together a group of friends whose relationships are tested by secrets and ambition. It's witty, sexy, and balances genuine emotional stakes with comedy. Harper's ensemble writing is sharp.
But The middle section drags; some subplots feel abandoned. If you need tighter plotting, this sprawl will frustrate you.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from David E. Talbert's: A Fool and His Money
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
The Watermelon Heist2003
Both films are built on ensemble casts navigating poverty and sudden fortune through schemes and community rather than individual success. They're about regular people being clever.
A group of con artists and hustlers plan an elaborate scheme that falls apart hilariously. It's scrappy and unpretentious, with a real affection for its characters' ingenuity and resilience despite their circumstances.
But It's obscure for good reason—the production is rough and the pacing is lumpy. You have to meet it halfway, and not everyone will.
More like this (8)
Coming to America1988
Eddie Murphy as an African prince navigating American life and romance. It's absurdly inventive—the jokes land, the heart is real, and it's genuinely a love story buried inside a comedy.
But It hasn't aged perfectly; some of the humor reads dated now, and casual viewers sometimes find it slower than memory suggests.
Uncle 'Bar' at Barbershop2000
A day at a Chicago barbershop brings together regulars, new characters, and unexpected emotion. It's funny but also respectful—it listens to its characters and lets them breathe between jokes.
But The plot is thin and the lessons are fairly obvious. If you need strong narrative momentum, the episodic structure won't satisfy.
Madea's Family Reunion2006
Tyler Perry's Madea crashes a family gathering where secrets explode and healing happens. It's unashamedly emotional underneath the comedy—Perry commits fully to both the laughs and the tears.
But Perry's style is divisive; the broad performance and stacked-on-purpose plotting can feel manipulative if you're not with the program.
Next Friday2000
Ice Cube tries to avoid his drug dealer ex by moving in with his uncle in the suburbs. It's looser and more inventive than it sounds, with genuine surprises and warm character work beneath the premise.
But The plot is more of a framework than an engine. Some stretches feel undercooked, and the humor is hit-or-miss depending on your tolerance for silliness.
Boomerang1992
A womanizing advertising executive meets his match in a woman just as selfish. It's a battle-of-the-sexes comedy with energy and style, and the supporting cast is genuinely funny.
But The gender politics are dated and the romance feels obligatory. If you need your comedy to age well thematically, this one struggles.
Deliver Us from Eva2003
A meddling woman who controls her sisters' lives meets her match in a charming con artist. It has warmth and works as both comedy and romance, with an ensemble that genuinely seems to enjoy each other.
But The premise is thin and the resolution is predictable. There's nothing here that surprises; it's comfort food rather than nourishment.
Norbit2007
Like A Fool and His Money, it's a David E. Talbert script—theatrical, unapologetic about broad comedy, committed to character work over restraint. This is Talbert at his most uninhibited.
Eddie Murphy plays three characters in a story about a meek man trapped between his domineering wife and the woman he loves. It's anarchic and goes nowhere it's expected to go; Murphy's commitment to each character is total.
But It's crude, ugly, and relies on body jokes and racial stereotypes. Many people found it offensive; almost everyone found it too much.
The Five Heartbeats1991
Both explore how money and sudden success test family and community bonds. Both use ensemble casts to examine loyalty, jealousy, and what we owe each other. The Heartbeats goes darker but asks the same questions.
A drama-comedy following an R&B group from their rise through addiction, betrayal, and redemption. It's serious when it needs to be, funny without losing sight of real pain. Robert Townsend directs with genuine love for the form.
But It's long and structurally awkward; the shifts between comedy and tragedy can feel jarring. The pacing asks patience from viewers.
People
Cast
Directing
- David E. TalbertDirector