‘They Cloned Tyrone’ Brings Back Blaxploitation in Brilliant New Sci-Fi

Ain’t nothing like that new flavor. We all have our favorite things, our routine, our go-to, if you will. But, every now and then, something new comes along and reminds you of how many different flavors there are out there, just waiting to be explored. That’s how I feel about directorial debuts. This year has been the year of the new flavor. Some of my favorite films have all been helmed by first-time feature directors, and Netflix’s new genre bender They Cloned Tyrone is no exception. 

There’s no simple way to describe They Cloned Tyrone because the film is anything but. The story centers around dope boy Fontaine (John Boyega; The Woman King). It’s just another day in the Glen. Fontaine carries out his daily routine. He lifts some weights and gets a tip from a youngsta, who acts as his spy, that someone from a rival gang is selling drugs on his turf. Well, Fontaine doesn’t stand for that, and neither does the man when Fontaine runs him over with his car. Then, the day continues. Fontaine grabs a 40, a pack of cigarettes, and a scratcher from the liquor store. Before he continues on his daily route collecting his fees, he pours some of his drank into the cup of the local oracle stationed outside the store. 

After discovering that the town pimp, Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx; Day Shift), still owes him money, Fontaine heads to the rundown motel he calls home to collect. This is also where we meet Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris; Candyman), one of Slick Charles’ hoes that is fed up with his shenanigans.  After turning Slick Charles’s apartment upside down to find the money he’s owed, Fontaine gets in his car to leave. But, before he can drive away, he’s shot dead by the rival gang in retaliation. 

The next day, Fontaine wakes up, lifts some weights, buys a 40, cigarettes, and a scratcher, and pours a sip into the cup of the local oracle outside the store. He arrives at Slick Charles’ motel to pick up his fee and is shocked by his reaction. Charles tells Fontaine that he saw him get killed the night before and takes him to meet with Yo-Yo to confirm that it’s true. Yo-Yo tells Fontaine that she did indeed see him the night before and that she also saw the car speed out of the parking lot. And that she recognized a car leaving the scene. 

Yo-Yo leads them to the car, but it isn’t the vehicle responsible for Fontaine’s death. Slowly morphing into an unlikely trio of investigators, they head into a strange house, down an elevator to find a solo white man with a dry afro dancing to Michael Jackson in a lab. While Fontaine tries to interrogate the lab tech, Charles and Yo-Yo try what they think is cocaine on the tables. It’s not. But the powder does give them the giggles. They giggle so much that Charles accidentally kills the lab tech. Just when they think the night can’t get any worse, they turn and find Fontaine staring in disbelief at his own dead body. 

You would think this sums up the entire film, but this is only the first thirty minutes. What remains of They Cloned Tyrone is an entertaining and enlightening ride down a conspiracy-ridden journey that pays homage to Blaxploitation while presenting something fresh that fits right in with the times. 

The world that debut director Juel Taylor crafts in They Cloned Tyrone is nothing short of amazing. The film does not exist in a specific era. It’s both old-school and modern at the same time. Not only does it not belong to a particular time, it also doesn’t belong to a specific place. The Glen could be anywhere. The neighborhood feels familiar taking inspiration from various urban communities – from the local chicken spot to the beauty salon and the church. These places are not just any locations; they’re specific to the story of Black lives in America and point purposefully to social topics within the community.

The film is impeccably written by Taylor and Tony Rettenmaier. There are no sacrifices made. It’s intelligent and witty. Part of what makes films become cult classics are the quotes audiences can work into everyday conversation. They Cloned Tyrone is overflowing with meme-worthy content, ripe for the picking across social media and text conversations. Riding the comedy is an elevated approach to social commentary, hitting on subjects like gentrification, assimilation, and systematic oppression.

They Cloned Tyrone also sheds light on historical disinterest in the Black community’s struggles. The powers that be often try to infiltrate the culture to find ways to keep the Black community losing. They orchestrate ways to keep us sedated like a hamster on a wheel of idleness. The film also emphasizes the power of unity, urging individuals not under the spell to become their brother and sister’s keepers, breaking the trance, mobilizing, and overthrowing so that the collective can prosper. 

Jamie Foxx anchors this ensemble cast. And we would expect nothing less from the Academy Award winner. This is right in his wheelhouse; you can tell he had fun with this role. There are moments in the film where you can tell the director said, “action,” and just let Foxx let loose. This doesn’t negate the contributions made by both Boyega and Parris. In fact, Parris and Boyega deserve credit for being able to share the spotlight alongside Foxx. No actors overshadow the other. The chemistry was palpable. Boyega’s ability to transform completely into the character he’s portraying at action and shed it easily at cut is truly unique. You can tell each of them had fun on and off the screen. 

They Cloned Tyrone is almost too good for its Netflix home. What Taylor delivered for his debut is something of cinematic value. The attention to detail embedded in the story, pulled from films like Jackie Brown, Black Dynamite, Friday, and A Clockwork Orange, results in a political thriller cradled within a relevant sci-fi comedy.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars