Snoop Dogg is a pilot in Soul Plane. Rapper Method Man also has a part in the film. Special

'Soul Plane' humor spurs film's nosedive

The airborne comedy Soul Plane, slated for a Sept. 7 DVD release, tries hard to be all things for all people. There are elements of romantic comedy, satire, parody, raw urban riffing and bawdy sex comedy incorporated into the story of an all funky, all-the-time airline's first flight.

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Sadly, the result is an offensive, ineffectual and improbable 90-minute extension of the "I speak jive" gag from the like-minded (but far superior) 1980 film Airplane!

Most of the failures stem from an apparent lack of faith in the movie's premise. The idea of a young black man who uses a $100 million lawsuit award to start an airline in his own image is inspired. However, the filmmakers seemed to fear the idea of allowing a winning concept to dictate the humor. Instead, they paint the film's ineffectual gags with the broadest possible brush, eliminating subtlety from its slapstick.

It's a shame, because Soul Plane is well cast, utilizing the talents of many of hip-hop and urban comedy's brightest stars. Method Man, Sommore, D.L Hughley, Mo'Nique and Snoop Dogg make appearances in the film, but none of their comic gifts are fully utilized and, even if they were, they could not save this sinking cinematic ship.

Where the film succeeds is in its production design. While it's true that the smoke-and-mirrors airplane seems improbably large inside its knowing nods to car culture and visual take on the class system are the film's most interesting, and often funniest, gags.

SPECIAL FEATURES: While the expected cast commentary, making-of documentary and brief gag reel offer little insight, the studio was kind enough to offer an extended version of one of the few successful jokes, a Destiny's Child-style flight safety video.

Reach Steven Uhles at (706) 823-3626 or steven.uhles@augustachronicle.com.

--From the Thursday, September 2, 2004 printed edition of the Augusta Chronicle