Menace II Society (1993)

Menace II Society (1993)

starring Tyrin Turner, Larenz Tate

directed by Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes

97 minutes

Caine (Tyrin Turner) grows up in Los Angeles. His parents are both dead by the time he is 10 years old. His grandparents, who are very religious, take him in. He chooses a different path in life than the one his grandparents are on.

Caine makes ends meet by selling drugs. He narrowly survives a drive by shooting in which a cousin of his is killed. Caine and O-Dog (Larenz Tate), his closest friend, get revenge for the drive by once Caine has recovered. Caine looks out for Ronnie and her son. Pernell, the father of Ronnie's son, was a friend of Caine's father and looked out for Caine after his father passed. 

Caine and O-Dog hang out with a small group of friends who each seem to be headed somewhere in life. Not all of them are living the gangster life. They don’t all survive to the end of the film despite their commitment (or lack there of) to the gangster life. 

Thoughts

There are a number of familiar faces in supporting roles in this film. Jada Pinkett Smith played Ronnie. Samuel L. Jackson played Caine’s father. Khandi Alexander played Caine’s mother. I know her best from NewsRadio. Charles S. Dutton played the father of one of Caine's friends. Arnold Johnson played Caine's grandfather. He also played the title character in Putney Swope (1969). Bill Duke played a police detective who interrogates Caine after he gets arrested. Most of then don't get a lot of screen time.

This feels very much like an old school gangster film. Caine is born into the gangster life. He has options but chooses to stick with the gangster life, despite having a conscience. Caine, unlike O-Dog, is not a reckless or ruthless killer who takes people out at the slightest provocation. He is trying to change and has plans to try and make a new life for himself when his past comes back to haunt him.

This is my second time watching this movie. The first time I saw it was almost exactly 22 years ago. I don’t have any strong memories from that viewing. I was very impressed by it this time around.