They Cloned Tyrone

• Directed by Juel Taylor (Directorial Debut)
• June 14, 2023 (ABFF) / July 14, 2023 (United States) / July 21, 2023 (Netflix)

An unlikely group uncovers a government cloning conspiracy in their neighborhood.

Hearing largely good things, They Cloned Tyrone was the rare film I had absolutely no fear going into. Aware of the premise I assumed it would be good even if it did not equal the hype. This is a weird yet effective mix of serious and silly. It plays with its concept and just had fun but never devolved into abject silliness. It deftly walks a fine line.

This is clearly in part an homage to blaxploitation movies with what we get also containing mystery, horror, and science fiction that delves into satire using absurd humor. Mixed into all that is some heavy social commentary that manages to slip by any biases a viewer might have because this is just such a good story.

The main cast along with any supporting players is pretty small. This is not a bloated group with people there just to be there allowing individuals and plotlines to be developed. The story focuses on a drug dealer in the area known as The Glen named Fontaine (John Boyega). He is apparently shot and killed after trying to get money from his customer Slick Charles (Jamie Foxx) by rival dealers but wakes the next day with no injuries from or memories of the event. Along with Slick Charles’s working girl Yo-Yo (Teyonah Parris) they uncover a vast conspiracy involving their friends and neighbors. These characters start out as stereotypes but grow beyond their superficial beginnings.

Everything going on is part of a plot by the US government to bring about social stability by eliminating the African American community through interbreeding and a bit of gentrification via drugged products targeted at that community. Through that the story also touches on that the problems in the black community are not necessarily caused by the black community but by outside forces.

Being a comedy, the tainted products are fried chicken in a popular chain and grape drink used in a local church for communion. There are also tainted haircare products. Like a good Mel Brooks film this uses intelligent stupidity to mock its target. It parodies things often.

I like the occasional acknowledgement of broader horror elements. There is a character called ‘Frog’ (Leon Lamar) which is a clear homage to the horror trope of the crazy old guy that knows everything but nobody believes him/you do not quite see that.

Mixed in with all this are questions of identity and free will. Am I in control of my own destiny? Can I be more? These are people that have to decide whether or not they wish to be controlled by their environment or take control of their environment. Are they going to let others push them around or are they going to push back? Relatable human questions done in a science fiction environment. This isn’t on some spaceship or on a faraway planet but in a very recognizable urban area. It creates a distinct level of plausibility.

Mercifully what could’ve been just silly and goofy is actually intelligently done. This is a smart satirical film which carefully lays out its path and builds upon elements. There are no illogical swerves or abrupt turns. The people behind this had brains.

After the truth of the matter is learned Fontaine comes to realize his entire life is a lie down to a mother that we have never seen on camera. His discovery of that is just kind of sad. Kudos to Boyega for making something ridiculous touching. Not that Foxx or Parris do any disservice to their material. What could have gone the cheap and easy way is handled by the talented cast with skill by a director making their big debut with great promise.

This may be petty but I do have one complaint. It just annoys me and I cannot let it go. Concerning the title They Cloned Tyrone. I thought somebody named ‘Tyrone’ would be at the minimum the first to get cloned/be revealed as cloned, but they start with Fontaine in the story. Kind of bothers me but nothing too bad. There’s a last minute save on that but considering all things they weren’t even a part of the story technically until the last couple of seconds. Anywho…

With a good script and good execution, They Cloned Tyrone was a very pleasant surprise. It’s funny and intelligent and it may give you a thing or two to think about when the credits roll. Very worth watching.