Carbon Copy (1981)

“I’ll shovel it. I’ll live in it. But I won’t take it. ” – Walter Whitney

Number of Times Seen – at least 2 (Cable in the 80’s and 28 Mar 2016)

Brief Synopsis – A successful WASP businessman’s life is drastically changed when he finds out that he has a black son from an affair twenty years earlier.

My Take on it – This is a movie that I’ve been meaning to rewatch for quite some time because I distinctly remembered bits and pieces of it from when I saw it probably thirty years ago on cable.

The two scenes that I recalled are the basketball one and the motel room TV set.

I think that I enjoyed this more as a kid because I didn’t quite understand it at all and just thought the concept was funny.

I can now see though that they were trying to make a statement about social issues and perceptions and unfortunately, they don’t do such a great job presenting it here.

This movie is a black comedy, but it has scenes that are there specifically for laughs, and others that are very melodramatic and in the end you don’t know whether they were trying for comedy, seriousness or perhaps some combination of the two.

It was fun seeing Denzel Washington and George Segal so young working together.

I read that it’s quite difficult to find this movie on cable because the social issues discussed can be quite controversial and so many prefer to avoid showing it.

Bottom Line – Interesting black comedy that tries to make a point about social equality, but instead seems like a farce and can’t be taken seriously enough. Interesting to see Washington and Segal together here.  Liked it much better as a kid when I didn’t completely understand it all.  Feels a bit too mediocre despite attempting to reach greater heights.

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – The film’s “Carbon Copy” title is a double entendre and play on words. The usual meaning refers to the paper copying technique of creating one or more paper copies simultaneously by the use of carbon paper. The film’s title plays on this by using the term as a reproduction joke for a white man with a black son. (From IMDB)

Rating – BAFTA Worthy

_______________________________________

Check out my *updated* movie stats here

To see my reviews of Oscar Winning Performances check out this link

To see my reviews of all Oscar Best Picture Winners click here (now complete)

Here is a link to my movie index A-Z