Double Take Parent Guide
Parent Movie Review
Director George Gallo gives us a fast-paced story of stolen identities, illegal drugs and corrupt government officials in his movie, Double Take.
A hefty deposit into the account of a Mexican soda bottling company raises the suspicions of Harvard-educated investment banker Daryl Chase (Orlando Jones) who represents the owner. His worst fears are realized that evening when, returning to his apartment, he and his girlfriend Chloe (Garcelle Beauvais) are ambushed by members of the Gutierrez drug cartel who use the pop production as a front. Rescued by CIA Agent T.J. McCready (Gary Grubbs), Daryl is briefed on the agency’s plans to take down the drug dealers. Things begin to unravel when Daryl finds his assistant murdered in her home, and a shootout between the killer and police leaves two officers dead. Framed for their murders and threatened by thugs, Daryl follows McCready’s advice to make a dash for Mexico. Catching a train, Daryl finds Freddy Tiffany (Eddie Griffin), a pesky street hustler he was cautioned to avoid, is already at the station.
Making the best of a bad situation, Daryl, who needs a passport other than his own to cross the border, switches identities with Freddy, only to discover that he is now a wanted man on both sides of the line, with the Mexican police and a Texas farmer turned bounty hunter hounding his every move.
Billed as a comedy, Double Take is full of spilt blood, blazing guns, moderate profanities, and exposed bodies in shrink-wrapped dresses and lingerie. Orlando Jones does a fair job of eliciting sympathy for a man whose morning has gone completely wrong, but the graphic depiction of shootings and a knife threat, add elements of drama that often outweigh any comic relief supplied by Freddy’s character. Even attempts at cartoon-type violence (after being thrown from the train Freddy gets back on only to be knocked off by a railroad crossing sign, and another character is hit in the groin) failed to generate any real laughs. Unfortunately, the double-dose of violence in this action flic may be more than your family is willing to take.
Starring Orlando Jones Freddie Griffin. Running time: 88 minutes. Theatrical release January 12, 2001. Updated July 17, 2017
Double Take
Rating & Content Info
Why is Double Take rated PG-13? Double Take is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for violence and language.
Overall: C-
This high-paced adventure shows cooperative efforts to fight crime but contains much violence and depicts corruption in government.
Violence: D
Man shot, heard not seen. Pickpocket and fighting in street, ambushed couple, knife held to throat, shots fired, woman found murdered - blood shown on gown. Reflection of man shooting. One man and two policemen ambushed, shot and killed. Verbal reference to murder. Man pushed from train, hit by RR crossing sign. Man hit in groin. Border police fire shots. Gun pointed numerous times at character-no shots fired. Two shoot outs—shows deaths. Several people bitten by dog. Car sinks in river with man and dog inside. Large sign falls on car with people inside. Man shot in the head. Chandelier falls and kills man—shown falling but not hitting him. Man accidentally shoots himself in the foot and neck—only facial reactions of other character shown. Character roughed up by thugs (pushing and shoving).
Sexual Content: C-
Models wearing skimpy lingerie on runway. Girls pressing themselves against man during a party—fully-clothed. Numerous posterior pinching or slapping (one involving nuns) and pulling at groin. References to pimps, child abuse (fondling), women’s breast size, and inferred sexual relationship. Suggestive comment made by man about woman. Various females in tight, chest or midriff baring or skimpy attire.
Language: C-
At least: 36 mild profanities, 72 moderate profanities, 10 uses of terms of Deity and 7 uses of a derogatory racial term.
Alcohol / Drug Use: C-
Story is based on money laundering by Mexican drug cartel, large packages of drugs are loaded in plane, liquor consumption, bar scene and characters smoking cigars and/or cigarettes, possible drug reference.
Page last updated July 17, 2017
Double Take Parents' Guide
On the train ride, Daryl and Freddie discuss the importance of “Harvard” smarts vs. street smarts. What roles should book learning and common sense play in a person’s education? Is one more valuable than the other?
Although Daryl was highly-educated and wealthy in comparison to Freddy, he sometimes lacks courtesy and respect when dealing with others, particularly those who are in service occupations. In comparison how does Freddy treat people? Did this make a difference to how they were received?
Many of the characters in this story were not who they appeared to be. How did Daryl choose whom he should trust? Some of the characters were put into positions of risk. Was this fair, or ethical?
Home Video
Related home video titles:
This film tries to mix violence with humor. Like Blue Streak or The Man Who Knew Too Little , this combination is seldom successful.