DysFunktional Family (2003) Poster

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8/10
Can't stop the funk
StevePulaski18 October 2011
Eddie Griffin has never had his big break in either acting or stand up comedy. But Dysfunktional Family proves that he should at least be given a strong round of applause. This is about two-thirds stand up, and one-third skit as Eddie Griffin goes back home to show us the people who inspired him and paved the way for his comedic life.

The stand up portion of the film is by far the best part. Eddie Griffin performs in front of a full house talking about racism, 9/11, women, and of course, sex. He talks about why women are known for receiving and not for giving, and why Michael Jackson won't be recognized when entered into Heaven.

The topics are diverse, but nonetheless hilarious. When people grab the mic and rant and rave and at least stand for a point rather than trying to say the funniest thing possible, I respect them. Dysfunktional Family is also made up of various skits showcasing where Eddie Griffin's sense of humor came from. We see both of his uncles - one an aspiring porn director, the other an ex-pimp. We see his mother discuss some aspects about Eddie's childhood and more.

I've never been fond of skits or any kind of set-up acts in comedy specials because it usually overshadows the true humor in the film. Putting on a set-up skit hoping to get laughs isn't funny - grabbing the mic and ranting on the world is. Dysfunktional Family keeps the skits to a bare-minimum, and focuses on Eddie Griffin's family, which is a positive thing. If anything, that is what it should do in the first place.

While this is short, it doesn't really go anywhere fast. The end tries to squeeze in a quote to make this seem like it has a moral, but the true reason this was made was likely to show what made Eddie Griffin himself. Why he is the way he is. What his parents think of his success, and his reactions to certain issues in his life.

The total number of times "the n word" is said clocks in at three-hundred and eighty two times. Like with Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat I can't tell if Griffin is using it consistently to be funny or on-purpose. For whatever reason, it almost makes it funnier. Especially when he imitates white people. I should be offended - but if I said I was I'd be lying.

Dysfunktional Family is cute and giddy fun which is really all that can be said. It gets continuously harder to review comedy specials because there truly isn't much to say aside from quoting the numerous lines. But you usually don't want to do that because you run the risk of spoiling things for other audiences. If you want to witness vulgarity, crudeness, excessive amounts of sex talk, and just all out chaos then I can't recommend Dysfunktional Family more.

Performed by: Eddie Griffin. Directed by: George Gallo.
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10/10
Funniest Stand-up comedian I've seen so far
azrael29a9 November 2004
I'm writing this article after seeing the "DysFUNKtional Family" for the 15th time, and I must say that I still laugh uncontrollably when I hear what Eddie Griffin's mind "bakes". I've seen a quite a few stand-up comedian shows at my age, but I must say... Eddie Griffin "tickles the f!@$ outta me" to use his own words. The movie is a small summary of his tragic life... growing up without a father, being raised by his mother and uncle Bucky. All of this would be true, if HE weren't the one making fun of it all, seeing things from an impersonal point of view... He pretty much talks about everything there is to talk about... 9-11 and the "Osama MFers", about sex, church, drugs, mother's unorthodox methods of raising him/spanking him... the thing is, the movie gets so hilarious at some point, I was beginning to wonder about how will I stop laughing after hearing so many jokes in such a short time... I sincerely recommend the movie to any person that understands English and the subtleties of the English language... I voted a 10 for the movie... amongst my favorites! "Think! It Ain't Illegal Yet!"
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Urban Comedy
IrockGswift17 October 2003
Since Eddie Griffin showed his face in the world of entertainment,I didn't care for his comic routines. In the past he was simple and wasn't funny at all. But after watching this movie (DysFunktional Family) I have a different perspective of him as a comic. He hit on every issue dealing with the middle-class black community such as parenting,religion,sports,drunks,drugs,and relatives. I have to admit this movie had me in tears quite a few times. I agree with the commentary by Derrick Dunn this is somewhat of an urban stand up and you have to live through it in order to understand it. If not of course it won't be funny. A recommended movie for family and friends.
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10/10
As good as if not better than RP Sunset Strip !!
moviecollectible10 January 2003
Eddie Griffin's masterpiece standup comendy routine has been perfected! This inside look at his growing up in Kansas City is amazing! His "perverted" uncle who tapes the women he has sex with to his other uncle crack smoking talk is priceless. Eddie has come a long way from his early days of comedy and his days on "Malcolm & Eddie". When you watch this you realize that as a storyteller, he's as good if not better than the Grandfather of Comedy concert films, Richard Pryor. Eddie is out of that same mold. This film will surprise a lot of people with it's honesty and openess. Eddie is so much more than the "Undercover Brother", he's a worthwhile superstar!! He's growing up, learning the meaning of life and sharing it with us to laugh at and enjoy. I saw a rough screening several months ago at a small theatre in the LA area without the soundtrack. I have heard that rapper/trouble again'd Sug Knight did the soundtrack! This should be the concert film event of the year, don't miss it! If there was a higher rating than a "10", I would say it's a 12 !!!!
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10/10
BEST EVER stand-up performance! Prepare yourself!
JoySLeigh20 March 2015
I enjoy watching stand-up comedians, and have seen many, many, many talented comedians. Since "laughter is the best medicine", this specific show by Eddie Griffin is as good as adding 20+ years to your life. I have never laughed so hard, and was in actual pain (stitches in my sides), tears streaming, throat sore, carpet abused from my rolling repeatedly on it. Hahaha! OK, now...just a warning, for those who do NOT like vulgar language: I don't think there are even 10 sentences that didn't have the F-word, etc. However, as I don't normally care for vulgar language, in this case, it was his genuine, sincere and appropriate use of it that lifted the show from very funny to totally hysterical! Eddie Griffen, in Dysfunktional Family, hits the nail on the head about the pains so many of us experienced growing up in the 70's and 80's, and beyond, and makes you suddenly feel so FREE and LIGHT, as you laugh away, easily relating, to his exceptionally talented tales of his own personal, humble upbringing. Hope you try it, and enjoy it as much as I did.
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Preetty funny movie if you like urban stand up comedy
DunnDeeDaGreat10 April 2003
Eddie Griffin's DysFunktional Family is a pretty funny movie if you like urban comedy. Griffin touches on everything from sex & 9/11 to religion and family. His stand up routines were every funny and he's a natural in front of the camera. The movie isn't for all tastes and sure the movie has bad editing but who cares,it's a stand up film. If you want a good laugh then check this one out.
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10/10
Excellent comedian
sydkelly15 January 2005
This is a good movie, especially the concert part. Eddie is a great mimic. Check out this movie if you want to laugh a lot. Also, noticed that Eddie looks a lot like Alan Keyes. The part about different religions is great. Not for everyone, as some people, especially the people who should see a film like this, wont go because they don't want to expose their delicate ears to profanity but have no problem with all the crap that goes on in the world. Funnier than Chris Rock if you ask me. Also, this movie gives a good idea of how people are like in the Midwest as the concert takes place in the Midwest. Check it out if you want to see a good movie. Kabish?
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10/10
DysFunktional Funny!
daviddpg143 July 2003
This movie was awesome, had me side bustin i was laughing so hard at some of eddies jokes. Man has some interested and funny concepts on a lot of the more modern subjects of what is going on in the world today. As he talks about 9/11, PU**Y, DRUGS and about his family life throughout the film. His family is quite crazy, and they get pretty involved with the family and get a little deep into his family life. Editing looked like maybe eddie let one of his homies from the hood handle, but its not that bad. Just looks like some1 was trying too much new stuff and should of just kept it a little more basic and straight up. I mean its a comic stand up, don't wanna over do it with the editing like Real Cancun did... Great Movie though, 9/10 very very funny man.
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10/10
Hilarious
coalduststar27 February 2005
Eddie Griffen is clearly one of the funniest comedians around and this innovatively well put together DVD is a welcome and hilarious break from the norm.

Griffen's no nonsense sense of humour is brilliant and along with the way Gallo (the director) ties all of eddie's routine into pieces of footage taken of his family, discussing the events he's describing in the routine, is really fresh! I totally loved and was disappointed to see a 1/10 review. If you don't find this DVD funny and quirky then you need to get rid of the pocket protector Poindexter!! This isn't for the faint of heart- it's for everyone with a pulse and a personality-it's a offensive in part but it's REALLY funny!
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Funny and from the heart...
expokool5 April 2003
I have been an inactive member of the imdb world for years now and haven't cast a single vote or posted my comments for public viewing, but the only review of Dysfunktional Family on this site does not shine a good light on a movie which cracked me up and gave me a great first date... In this movie, a black comic on tour hits his home town of Kansas City and does a one night show with his current material, mostly consisting of jokes about his family... What I liked to most about this movie are all the things reviews i read said to hate about it. For starters, you could look at Eddie Griffin's childhood as a depressing and upsetting way to grow up. With one uncle addicted to porn and the other addicted to heroin, no father, getting beat up all the time by his mother, no money, and on top of things, it gets really cold in the winter . Personally, I travel to Kansas City once a year for the only reason anyone would; I have family there also, and let me tell you, it's not an easy life. This movie showed nothing but love and laughter from the start. If you're going to make a movie that is basicly a recording of a live show, I think this movie couldn't of been done better - with little sidetracks of the family and how they really are makes the jokes about them 100 times funnier than they would of been already... And cutting to shots of the audience cracking up make you laugh even harder because Kansas city is a town where everyone tries to dress like a pimp. If you want to laugh, and can find humor in almost anything when the right spin is put on it - this is a movie for you.
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10/10
What is good it's Good!!!
yolinkin24 October 2007
My co-national here posted next to me said that he saw the movie 15 times. Wheel I'v seen it almost 100 times & i still laugh at it. I know all his lines ... but seeing hem on stage doing his sh**et makes me laugh with tears. Anyway ... if u read this u have probably seen it so I don't have to tell you how awesome it is. I have convinced a legion of people to watch it & not even one of them said that it's not good. Not even the English people which by the way they hate Americans ... U see why the real life based stories are the best? Just hearing that crazy stuff your mind starts creating things and imagining it like it was real and the level of your imagination increases the level of the story making you laugh even more. So to make the story shorter PLEEASE Show it to all the people u know 'cause it's a quality Stage Show
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Okay but not great!!
Funkyrhino14 September 2003
Having watched all the Richard Pryor concerts, Eddie Murphy, Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Red Foxx and many many other R Rated comedians I have to say this movie was a bit of a let down. There are some funny routines but the whole thing just leaves you feeling a bit flat. Griffin makes extensive use of the N Word that hasn't been heard since early Richard Pryor routines. In fact one problem I had is that it seems like Eddie was trying to be too much like Richard and not enough like himself. The references to his family were ho-hum especially the dry routine about his grandfather and porn watching uncle. Sounds a bit like watered down Pryor. Like I said there are some funny spots, but for every funny moment you have to sit through escapades of so so moments that make you smirk instead of crack up. Wait till this one comes on HBO instead of shelling a few bucks for the rental. 4.5/10
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WTF The worst comedian ever
hoyj41119 June 2006
What were you guys watching, this guy is weak. How is he famous? If you're a brain dead dolt, it might appeal to you. Some of his bits were painfully recycled by other comedians sets. I seriously didn't crack a smile watching him hack it as a comic. And the movies he stars in suck *ss. Unoriginal, ignorant, wannabe Pryor. I'm am now dumber from watching him. I don't get it, did they edit out the funny? He's like a beady eyed rat with a sloping forehead and big teeth. And for those that said this is a family flick, what kind of ghetto family are you raising. That kind of thinking is what is wrong with society and I feel sorry for who you are raising. Ignorance spawns ignorance, I guess. Oh yeah clubsi ownz joo!
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