Rating: 
Summary: "I Don't Be Got No Weapon ...."
Review: Robert Townsend hit the nail on the proverbial head with this movie that exposes the foolishness and racism that permeates Hollywood, and the changes that blacks and Latinos have to endure just to audition for a simple movie. The moral of this flick, of course, is that you don't have to sell out because, after all, "there's always work at the post office." Not only is this a lie (there ain't too much work anywhere for a black man), but it oversimplifies the issue: talent should speak for itself and black people should not have to be relegated to "coon roles," "slave skits" and drug dealer pimp scenarios when whites are playing a wide gamut of roles, many of them that they aren't even qualified for. Highlights of this incredibly lucid movie are the two brothers who review movies ala Ebert and Roeper, including one about "the attack of the zombie pimps;" the flashback/dream that Bobbie has of himself as a detective in Sam Ace; Keenan Wayans' hilarious portrayal of a thug named "Jerry Curl;" a TV star who plays a black bat that lives in a white suburban house, "Battie Boy;" and who can forget Winky Dinky Dog, the place where Bobby works, a place where you can really advance ("Look at Tiny; he's only been here six months, and he's assistant crew chief .... Look at me -- I went from two dollars to two sixty five. I got responsibility!"). But Bobby will have none of that. A touching scene in a barber shop where his uncle tells him to never give up on his dreams the way he (the barber) did, puts much needed emotion and seriousness into what is otherwise a laugh-a-minute parody. One of the lines in the movie that Bobby is auditioning for, a stereotype-riddled flick directed by whites, is "why you wanna pull a knife own me? I don't be got no weapon." Laughs for days.
Rating: 
Summary: Shuffling stereotypes
Review: "Hollywood Shuffle" is a modest and sporadically amusing film about Hollywood stereotypes of African-Americans. Unfortunately, director/writer Robert Townsend doesn't hesitate to utilize his own stereotypes and put-downs of gay men in the film, who are treated as cheap laughs throughout. That a film that purports to expose bigotry in Hollywood can utilize and exploit such bigoted and stereotypical attitudes toward gays says more about Mr. Townsend than it does about Hollywood. Apparently, in Mr. Townsend's view, bigotry is OK as long as it's not directed at blacks; and if you're a victimized minority it's OK to put down another victimized minority.
Rating:
Summary: Still Robert Townsend's best movie
Review: Even though I really enjoyed THE NATALIE COLE STORY and THE FIVE HEARTBEATS, HOLLYWOOD SHUFFLE is still my favorite film by Robert Townsend. It takes a humorous but and oh, so true look at the struggles Blacks have to go through in the film industry to get decent roles, which are still scarce for Blacks in Hollywood today. Townsend plays a struggling young actor who refuses to compromise his self-respect by playing demeaning roles. Just like it was back in the early days of film when Blacks only played mammies, ignorant and shiftless Uncle Toms, Blacks today are mostly regulated to roles as gang bangers, drug dealers, hookers, golddiggers, the asexual best friend of the white hero, etc. unless your name happens to be Denzel Washington. This movie is hilarious. For anyone considering film as a career, or just anyone who loves to laugh, this is the movie for you!
Rating: 
Summary: hilarious comedy
Review: Hollywood Shuffle is a spoof of many of the 'blaxploitation' films of the seventies. This was hollywood's introduction to Robert Townsend, as he wrote and starred in the film, reportedly financing it with credit cards.Townsend stars as an actor trying to break into the bigtime. He finds it tough to break out of the hollywood ideas for black actors. The movie sends up several popular films, including Dirty Harry and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Be sure to look for the Siskel and Ebert parody. Not very deep, and probably not for those who can't laugh at themselves. Some of the humor might be considered insensitive. I consider it hilarious.
Rating:
Summary: Good, Honest Cheese from Robert Townsend
Review: Hollywood shuffle is Robert Townsend's comedic look at the crude stereotypes that young black actors have had to face in Hollywood. Serious issues are dealt with, but mostly this is a vehicle for some classic Wayans brothers style sketches. there are probably 30 sketches laced into the movie. I especially liked their parody of Siskel & Ebert's "At the movies". In this sketch, two ruffians sneak into movie theatres & rate movies. They rated a "Dirty Larry" movie, a "Chicago Jones" movie, and the best of all "Attack of the Killer Street Pimps". This movie has a similar feel to Keenan Ivory Wayans' "I'm Gonna Get You Sucker", and is almost like a sequel. If you liked the show "In Living Color", or any other Wayans Brothers movies, you'll want to own this one.
Rating:
Summary: polictical comedy has never been this funny before
Review: Hollywood shuffle is without a doubt one of the funniest movies I have ever seen.All the more amazing is the fact that it is a polictical vehicle.Directing attention to a need for greater civil awareness in films,as well as a call to abandon stuborn race-based type casting. When I watch this film I am enchanted with the assertive and empathetic feel of it's overall drive-Robert Townsend has a wonderful sense of humor and he is fighting the good fight. As a person with white skin-I feel he is a good teacher of some much needed lessons in understanding one another.
Rating:
Summary: Hollywood Shuffle
Review: I have seen a lot movies that Robert Townsend played in and actually liked them so much that I would add them to my collections and look at dozen of time and never get tried looking at them. I wish I could get his and Leon E-mail, because I am a number one fan and I have some ideas to share with them.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorite movies of all time
Review: I love this movie. It's so damn funny, yet it has a point to it. I'm glad I found this movie, so I can see it over and over again. If you don't have it, then you are missing out.
Rating:
Summary: Underrated Eye Opener....Instant Classic.
Review: In 1987 on a limited budget Robert Townsend released one of the most groundbreaking as well as most underrated films, which still receives little recognition. In Hollywood Shuffle Townsend confronts dignity, self pride, racism, stereotypes, and the loss of cultural consciousness all merged together in one film. Not only is this movie hysterically funny, but what Townsend relays in the film is sadly true and still exists today in Hollywood. Townsend intelligently displays how African-American actors were and still in some cases are subjected to playing certain roles such as thieves, butlers, gangsters, pimps, and drug dealers for example. Hollywood Shuffle also indicates that in some instances African American actors limit their own potential for success. This is an excellent film that was way well ahead of it's time. Hollywood Shuffle has a striking resemblance to Bamboozled, which should be sited as that film's predecessor. This movie not only causes you to laugh hysterically in tears. But in the same sense it promotes awareness and teaches a very important lesson to those unaware of African American struggle in Hollywood. This film also launched the careers of Damon Wayans, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Rusty Cundieff, and Anne Marrie Johnson. Children should see this movie, despite the explicit language
Rating:
Summary: Satire and the Establishment
Review: Most of the reviews have touched most facets of the movie and even mentioned allusions. But I enjoyed the film and will say a few things as well. I think this movie could be used to describe the current situation in Hip-Hop. The "sell-outs", stereotypical roles, and perpetuation of amorality is rampant in most Hip-Hop acts. Townsend is talking about the lack of equality and degeneration of black probity in this film, which is currently at an all-time high in modern music. This movie not only commentates about prejudice in Hollywood, but the ignorance of the people who consume the stereotypical garbage. This movie is hilarious and disheartening. The absurdity strikes home when you realize that these formulated characters and shows appear on your television today. This film did remind me of Bamboozled as well, but Hollywood Shuffle is nowhere near as caustic toward [stereo]type-casting. There is intelligence in the black community and this film blasts the one-dimensional depiction of black people.
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