"Back on the Strip" attempts to be a light indie comedy about a young man, Merlin, who aspires to be a magician. However, he finds himself trained as an exotic dancer by a group of middle-aged former strippers. The film's saving grace is its stellar ensemble cast. They infuse the movie with remarkable charisma, making what could have been a mediocre project surprisingly watchable. Led by Wesley Snipes as Luther, also known as "Mr. Big," the film features these erstwhile Vegas stars from the 1990s, known collectively as "The Chocolate Chips," assembling for a reunion of sorts.
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Despite their entertaining personas, the film shifts its focus primarily to Merlin. Merlin is portrayed by Spence Moore II, and his career and love-life dilemmas. The audience asks: will he achieve his dream job and win over his high-school crush, Robin? The film knows you know, and it still emphasizes Merlin's narrative. This choice recalls classic Hollywood movies that subordinated popular comedians to somewhat bland romantic leads. It leaves viewers wishing for more from the talented veteran actors.
When we first encounter Merlin, he's finishing up high school in LA. He is totally smitten with Robin, his beautiful and intelligent best friend and magic assistant. His dream is to head to Las Vegas and achieve stardom as an illusionist. Unfortunately, a rival from his school sabotages his magic act, revealing a rather extraordinary physical endowment that Merlin possesses. Fast-forward a few years and we find Merlin still dreaming of a Vegas career, facing obstacles in the form of Robin's arrogant boyfriend Blaze, who is more interested in his social media following than comedy.
The film regains some of its charm when the Chocolate Chips reunite for practice sessions and bonding. Each member gets their own subplot and recurring comedic motifs. Snipes' portrayal of Luther stands out, offering a character with depth and experience, making his performance the true magic in this film.
Directed by Chris Spencer and co-written with Eric Daniel, the film unfortunately sidesteps character development for the romantic leads. Merlin's talents as an illusionist are hardly demonstrated. This leaves his mother Verna (Tiffany Haddish) to narrate how brilliant he is. This voice-over often feels like a band-aid solution to narrative challenges.
The film's redeeming feature is how it allows the older characters to showcase often-ignored facets of their acting abilities. Despite its flawed narrative and focus, "Back on the Strip" benefits immensely from its veteran actors, who bring an authentic vibe and comic timing to the project. The movie lies somewhere between a '90s indie comedy and an SNL spin-off with a few hilarious moments and a cast with more talent than the script.
The film's best asset is Snipes, who seems to be experiencing a career revival. His portrayal of Luther adds much-needed depth to the ensemble, making him the most captivating character to watch. In essence, his exceptional performance turns out to be the movie's most successful magic trick, adding a level of sophistication to what would otherwise be a forgettable comedy.
