‘Outsider’ Movie Review – Tupac the Outlawz

Tupac the Antagonist, the newest member of the Not Even Pals group, has been given a very interesting spin in the latest sequel to the cult-film franchises like The Mask. He is now a hardened and highly trained gun-slinger. One would say that the gruff, rough-around-the-market image was a bit much. But then, one would also say that any member of the Lawless League, including Tupac, was a bit over the top. Either way, this newest mask-er-in-training is sure to bring his animates up to speed with what the Raoney crew is up to.

Based upon the true story of former marine corporal Tupac Ambo, the movie chronicles his rise from mild-mannered domestic bliss to hardened crime-fighting force. Once he was dishonorably discharged from the Marines, Tupac formed an underground group of gunslingers. Now they were protecting the streets of New York from drug dealers and “street criminals”. It would be this gang that would become the nucleus for the movie’s antagonist, Tupac the Antagonist. And if that wasn’t enough to make this movie a blockbuster, Tupac also happens to be one of the best (and worst) gunslingers ever put on film.

Tupac (ahi hazmi) is played by Donell Jones. Now, I’m not talking about any type of acting skills but more like actual acting. I can remember seeing this movie as a kid and thinking how pretty the guys in the movie looked, even though they were supposed to be tough and serious. Like most guys in the 80’s, Tupac was sort of like the archetype of the gangsta. While on-screen, he often comes across as a sort of anti-social and angry, yet he still maintained a sense of respect for those around him.

One of the best things about Tupac is the voice he uses for the narration. Most times, narrating becomes monotonous, so it’s nice to have a different voice. Tupac speaks with a rough and tough brooding voice, much like the ones you hear in old gangster movies. The accent is southern, but it never fails to make you think of gunslingers from bygone days. It lends credibility to the character.

One thing that struck me as a little bit odd about Tupac The Outlawz is how his mother continually refers to him as her little boy. Like many mothers, I find this kind of thing jarring. It almost makes me feel like some of the violence and bad behavior displayed in the movie actually happened to my real mom. But whatever happened to Tupac’s real mom, one thing is for certain: Tupac has a strong familial bond with his grandmother, Shante. Interestingly enough, one of the reasons the movie was made was to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the murder of Tupac’s grandmother. She was, according to the plot, killed by one of the hooded criminals who were attempting to mug her.

Tupac, who was only nine at the time of the movie’s release, is portrayed by Will Smith in the movie quite well. Smith’s ability to act, dance, sing, and act with what seems to be perfect timing and great talent is a wonder to me. He has the raw energy and fire that you would come to expect from an athlete of his caliber, and he also displays incredible acting skills that you probably haven’t seen before in an American film.