White Chicks
White Chicks is a 2004 American buddy cop comedy film directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written by Wayans alongside his brothers Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who star as FBI agents Marcus and Kevin Copeland.[1] The plot centers on the brothers, who, after botching a drug bust, are assigned to protect a pair of spoiled socialite sisters from a kidnapping threat by disguising themselves in whiteface as the titular "white chicks" while infiltrating high society in the Hamptons.[1] Produced by Revolution Studios and distributed by Columbia Pictures, the film features supporting performances from Jaime King, Frankie Faison, and Busy Philipps, emphasizing slapstick humor derived from racial, gender, and class stereotypes.[2] Despite a $37 million production budget, White Chicks achieved commercial success, grossing $70.8 million domestically and $113 million worldwide, demonstrating strong audience appeal particularly among younger viewers and establishing a cult following over time.[3] Critically, however, it received poor reviews, earning a 15% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 125 critic assessments, with detractors citing reliance on crude humor, over-the-top caricatures, and perceived insensitivity in its portrayals.[1] Audience scores, by contrast, reached 55%, reflecting a divide between professional critics and general viewers that persists in its enduring popularity on streaming platforms.[1] The film's use of whiteface makeup to exaggerate Caucasian female features for comedic effect has sparked ongoing controversy, with some labeling it as perpetuating racist stereotypes through mockery of white privilege, mannerisms, and appearance, while others, including the Wayans brothers, argue it functions as satire exposing such tropes without malice.[4] Marlon Wayans has publicly defended the project against modern cancel culture critiques, asserting that its intent was broad parody rather than targeted offense, a stance that underscores tensions between 2000s-era comedy norms and contemporary standards of racial representation.[4] This debate highlights how mainstream critical dismissal often overlooks empirical audience reception in favor of ideological concerns, contributing to the film's status as a polarizing yet commercially validated entry in the Wayans family's oeuvre of broad, stereotype-driven films.[5]Synopsis
Plot summary
FBI agents and brothers Kevin and Marcus Copeland botch an undercover drug bust targeting dealer Hector Gomez, leading to a chase that damages property and results in their demotion by Section Chief Elliott Gordon.[6] [7] Assigned to safeguard hotel heiresses Brittany and Tiffany Wilson—whose father received a $50,000 ransom demand with photos of the sisters—the agents collect them from the airport for relocation to a secure Hamptons residence ahead of a charity gala.[8] [9] A subsequent car crash involving paparazzi and the sisters' yapping dog leaves Brittany and Tiffany with facial bruises and swelling, prompting the spoiled duo to cancel their public appearances to avoid tabloid humiliation and social fallout.[9] [8] Faced with the risk of mission failure and further career damage, Kevin convinces Marcus to impersonate the Wilsons using elaborate latex masks, whiteface makeup, wigs, and prosthetics crafted by FBI techs, enabling the agents—now unrecognizable as blonde, blue-eyed socialites—to assume the sisters' identities and embed in Hamptons elite circles while the real women hide in a New York hotel suite.[1] [8] Posing as Brittany (Kevin) and Tiffany (Marcus), they befriend aspiring model Tori, clash with snobbish rivals Karen and Barbara, endure comedic blunders like wardrobe malfunctions and exaggerated girlish behaviors, and pursue leads on the kidnappers amid romantic subplots—Marcus feigns pregnancy to dodge advances while Kevin courts FBI agent Denise Porter under a false pretense, and "Tiffany" unwittingly attracts millionaire Latrell Spencer, who becomes a red herring suspect.[8] [9] The agents' probe reveals the plot's masterminds as Hamptons patriarch Warren Vandergeld—father of suitor Jake—and his chauffeur accomplice Heath Jones, motivated by financial desperation to abduct the Wilsons for ransom money.[8] At the climactic "Wilson Yacht Party" gala mimicking the real sisters' event, the disguised Copelands expose the scheme during an attempted grab, unmask themselves amid chaos, subdue the perpetrators with backup support, and secure arrests, vindicating their unorthodox tactics and reinstating their FBI status while resolving personal tensions, including Marcus reconciling with his wife Gina.[8]Cast and characters
Principal cast
Shawn Wayans portrayed Kevin Copeland, an FBI agent assigned to a high-profile protection detail, who disguises himself as Brittany Wilson, one half of a pair of affluent socialites.[10] His performance drew on the Wayans family's established comedic style, seen in prior collaborations like the Scary Movie series. Marlon Wayans played Marcus Anthony Copeland II, Kevin's partner and fellow agent, who assumes the identity of Tiffany Wilson, the other sister, incorporating physical humor central to the film's undercover premise.[11] The brothers' dual roles highlighted their screen chemistry, building on sibling dynamics from earlier projects such as The Wayans Bros. television series (1995–1999). Jaime King appeared as Heather Vandergeld, a fashion model entangled in the social circle targeted by the agents' operation.[12] Frankie Faison depicted Section Chief Elliott Gordon, the supervisory figure overseeing the FBI team's assignment.[12] Lochlyn Munro rounded out key leads as Agent Jake Harper, a colleague involved in the investigative efforts.[12]| Actor | Role(s) |
|---|---|
| Shawn Wayans | Kevin Copeland / Brittany Wilson |
| Marlon Wayans | Marcus Copeland / Tiffany Wilson |
| Jaime King | Heather Vandergeld |
| Frankie Faison | Elliott Gordon |
| Lochlyn Munro | Jake Harper |