White Chicks is a 2004 comedy film written and directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, starring his brothers Marlon and Shawn, from a screenplay co-written by the three of them alongside Xavier Cook, Andy McElfresh, and Michael Anthony Snowden. Terry Crews, Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, Busy Philipps, Jennifer Carpenter, Maitland Ward, Anne Dudek, Jessica Cauffiel and John Heard also star in supporting roles.
Marcus and Kevin Copeland (respectively played by Marlon and Shawn) are brothers that work as FBI agents. After botching an undercover operation, they are saddled with the task of babysitting socialites Brittany and Tiffany Wilson, who are the targets of a kidnapping scheme. After a car accident leaves the girls with a few minor scratches that they consider disfiguring facial wounds, they refuse to go to their planned destination in the Hamptons, where a major FBI operation is covertly being set up to protect the girls and oust the kidnapper.
Not wanting to lose their jobs, Marcus and Kevin decide their only option is to go undercover themselves as the Wilson sisters, with great amounts of whiteface and silicone being used to turn two African-American men into white women. Hilarity Ensues.
This film provides examples of the following tropes:
- Abhorrent Admirer: Latrell is this to "Tiffany", in his typical Scary Black Man persona.
- Affectionate Parody: Of Some Like It Hot, only with more lampooning socialites, Terry Crews, and "your mama" jokes.
- Alpha Bitch: The Wilson twins, though they're more ditzy than type.
- Their rivals the Vandergeld sisters, Heather and Megan, play this straight.
- Ambiguously Bi: Latrell. He drunkenly has sex with Russ, believing him to be "Tiffany". Also, when he learns who "Tiffany" really is, he's horrified because he's black, not because he's a man!
- Am I Just a Toy to You?: Right before the climax at the fashion show, Karen, a the insistence of Tiffany/Marcus decides to tell Heath that she's through being his "late night booty call," and breaks it off with him saying that he's happy to string her along while claiming that they'll begin dating soon as he dumps Megan.
- Attractive Bent-Gender: When Marcus and Kevin disguise themselves as the Wilson twins, Latrell starts flirting with Marcus throughout the film.
- Bedmate Reveal: Latrell wakes up to find that he is sharing his bed with Russ.
- Big Damn Heroes: Karen, Lisa and Tori become this for the "Wilson sisters" when they see them get humiliated with outrageous fashion. They eventually decide to give the Vandergeld sisters karma and expose them for what they did.
- Bilingual Bonus: The twin's last name, Vandergeld, translates to "Of The Money" in Dutch ("geld" = money), which is suspiciously fitting since they are Rich Bitches (note that this isn't a real name in Dutch, it was made up deliberately).
- Black Is Bigger in Bed: Latrell's line "Once you go black, you're gonna need a wheelchair!" implies that he's too aggressive at sex with white girls, rendering them unable to walk — whether permanently or temporarily is left unrevealed. Alternately, and more likely, it's a joke referencing the racial stereotype that black guys are bigger in bed.
- Blonde, Brunette, Redhead: Karen, Lisa, and Tori, respectively.
- Boomerang Bigot: Latrell, a black man who is angry at the reveal that Tiffany!Marcus is black and not that he's actually a man. Marcus even assumes that Latrell is shocked that he's not a woman before Latrell cuts him off and starts chewing him out for not being white.
- Clingy Jealous Girl: Marcus' Wife, Gina. She even showed signs of this before Marcus went off on the case.
- Comically Missing the Point: After Latrell gets shot, his right-hand man goes over to him and whips out a handkerchief, going "Don't worry, we'll get this stain right out." And again, his reaction after finding out that “Tiffany” is a guy.
- Cowboy Cop: An FBI equivalent of this trope. Kevin aspires to be this. However, his attempts at being a tough guy cop are often played for laughs. But he does at least show his badassery during fights, and like other cowboy cops, he priorities brute force to solve most of his problems. And he is also very quick to dickish and hostile behavior.
- Da Chief: Chief Gordon is an FBI example of this trope. He chews out the Copeland brothers for the ridiculous parts of their antics and whenever they botch an assignment. He even tells the Copeland brothers to turn in their guns and badges when firing them.
- Dance-Off: One that's intentionally not that impressive, as it's between two groups of WASP girls, but Serious Business all the same. Karen, Lisa, and Tori almost lose until the "Wilsons" step in and win it for them.
- Different for Girls: The Copelands constantly fumble with playing the part of white valley girls, but no one seriously picks up on any of the oddities.
- Disguised in Drag: The Copeland brothers disguise themselves as the Wilson sisters in order to complete their mission.
- Do Wrong, Right: The Chief's main problem with the Copelands. He's not necessarily against them going all Cowboy Cop, but he'd appreciate it if they at least catch the actual criminals in the course of causing collateral damage. He's very happy when they actually manage that much at the end of the movie.
- Enemies Equals Greatness: Russ' quote:"Don't hate me 'cause you ain't me!"
- Enemy Mine: Despite both duos having animosity towards each other in the beginning, The Copeland brothers and Harper and Gomez team up to take down the real mastermind Warren Vandergeld. They later become genuine friends at the end.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: The Wilsons read the paper of "their" success on The Hamptons, but then remember they weren't actually at the event but were in their New York hotel room the entire time, thus realizing the the Copelands' were impersonating them.Tiffany: Oh, my God! Brittany!
Brittany: What?
Tiffany: We're on page 6!
Brittany: No!
Tiffany: Yeah!
Brittany:: No!
Tiffany: Yeah!
Brittany: NO!
Tiffany: Yeah! Look! (shows the headline) "Wilson Sisters Rock Hamptons"!
Brittany: Wilson sisters rock!
Tiffany: YEAH!
Brittany: Wait a minute... We weren't in The Hamptons this weekend!
Both: OH, NO! WE'VE BEEN CLONED! - Fun with Acronyms: The benefit dinner is called the Southampton Nuclear Opposition Benefit.
- Gender-Bender Friendship: While disguised as the Wilson twins, Marcus and Kevin start hanging out with the sisters' best friends Tori Karen and Lisa. And even the truth came out, the girls find that they liked the Wilson sisters much better when Kevin and Marcus were them. The girls and the Copelands agree to keep in touch and go shopping together.
- Growling Gut: Marcus (disguised as Tiffany) eats a whole tray of cheese appetizers. However, he's lactose intolerant, so the appetizers cause his stomach to growl due to a need to use the bathroom.
- Henpecked Husband: Marcus, whose wife flies off into a jealous rage for even the smallest discrepancies; it's Played for Laughs.
- Humiliation Conga: The Vandergeld sisters get upstaged and humiliated in virtually every scene by the Copelands posing as the Wilson twins.
- I Have Boobs, You Must Obey!: Megan tries seducing the director of the fashion show runway. Unfortunately for her, it doesn't take. "Oh, Honey, you are so barking up the wrong tree right now".
- If It's You, It's Okay: Latrell's indifferent reaction to Tiffany!Marcus admitting she's not who he believes she is. He's rather much more shocked at the reveal that Tiffany!Marcus is black and not even caring that he's a man.
- Impoverished Patrician: Mr. Vandergeld is the real kidnapper and he's doing it because he's broke.
- Incredibly Conspicuous Drag: The Wayans brothers still look like two black men, but the disguise seems to fool everyone. Shawn Wayans himself admits to being a "very ugly woman" in the DVD Extras.
- Informed Attribute: In the finale, Marcus tells Gina about how wonderful a wife she is because of the kind things she does for him — but the audience only ever sees her as a Clingy Jealous Girl to her husband.
- Large Ham: Terry Crews as Latrell Spencer.
- Larynx Dissonance: When the Copelands put on their "Wilson" voices, it always sounds just a little... off. Though when they drop to their normal speaking voices while in disguise, it's equally disconcerting.
- Meaningful Name: "Vandergeld" means "for the money" in Dutch.
- Minor Injury Overreaction: The Wilsons "suffer" some minor scrapes in a car accident (a scratch on the nose and a cut on the lip) and have complete meltdowns, refusing to be seen in public. These overreactions snowball into the main plot.
- Mistaken for an Imposter: When Gomez and Harper capture who they believe to be Kevin and Marcus disguised as supermodels Brittany and Tiffany, they forcibly undress them in front of their superior to prove it. Turns out they actually captured the real Brittany and Tiffany, who punch them unconscious in retaliation for the undressing.
- Mistaken for Cheating: Marcus' wife Gina thinks her husband is cheating on her when she sees him with "Brittany".
- Mistaken for Gay: When Marcus!Tiffany cheers up Karen and gives her a heartwarming talk about a special person being right in front of them. Karen asks if she's a lesbian.
- Mugging the Monster: A mugger grabs the expensive purse being held by a wealthy socialite and runs off. What he doesn't expect is for the "socialite" to chase him for several blocks, tackle him to the ground, and beat the crap out of him with surprisingly heavy punches. The "socialite" is actually a male FBI agent dressed as a woman.
- Mushroom Samba: Latrell suffers this after drinking the Ecstacy laced drink meant for "Tiffany" as he ends up dancing shirtless to techno music with glowsticks and a whistle. Then he accidentally ends up in bed with Russ.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Brittany and Tiffany Wilson, for Paris and Nicky Hilton.
- N-Word Privileges: Played for Laughs when the Copelands, in their disguises, listen to rap music in the car with the Wilsons' friends. The girls are horrified when the "Wilsons" say the N-word, until they explain that there's nobody around to hear them and that it's okay if it's in a song.
- Oh, Crap!: Russ has this reaction during a fight ("mama?"), when he smashes a chair over "Brittany's" head, to no effect whatsoever.
- When Marcus!Tiffany enjoys a plate of quiche only to find out they're filled with cheese and he's lactose intolerant.
- When Marcus' wife Gina shows up at the hotel looking for Marcus.
- Paper-Thin Disguise: Marcus and Kevin are, shall we say, not entirely convincing as white girls, to the point that it strains the Willing Suspension of Disbelief that none of the other characters suspect.
- Poisoned Chalice Switcheroo: Marcus pulls this on Latrell after he tries giving an ecstasy-laced drink to "her".
- Preferable Impersonator: Despite their Paper-Thin Disguise, Marcus and Kevin are much nicer than the real girls and are accepted.
- Race Fetish: Latrell is super into white women; to the extent that being a woman seems to be a secondary requirement compared to being white.
- Real Men Wear Pink: Latrell singing along to Vanessa Carlton's "A Thousand Miles".
- Red Herring: Ted Burton, the main suspect, isn't the kidnapper.
- Sassy Black Woman: Gina is always ready with a retort and more than willing to get her claws out.
- Single-Target Sexuality: Latrell only has eyes for "Tiffany."
- The Stoner: "Party Boy" Russ, who enjoys slipping estacy into his date's drinks and getting high on estacy and coke.
- Taking the Bullet: Latrell towards Marcus/Tiffany. He got better since he survived the shot.
- Twelfth Night Adventure: One of the oddest examples of the genre.
- Upper-Class Twit: The Wilsons, their Girl Posse, and the Vandergelds. Making fun of socialite culture is pretty much the point of the movie.
- What the Hell, Hero?: Both Copeland brothers. Their first mission ends up a failure for picking on the wrong gang, The FBI's two best agents get fired because of their crossdressing plan, and more. Fortunately, the brothers got better and saved the day.
- Wedgie: Kevin disguised as a woman is given a wedgie to correct his posture.
- Where da White Women At?: Latrell, to the point that when Marcus reveals himself, Latrell gets more upset that he's black, without even acknowledging that he's a man.
- Also said verbatim on the soundtrack before the Copelands are made over for the first time.
- White Like Me: The entire plot involves two black guys dressing up to pass as, well, white chicks.
- Wig, Dress, Accent: The Copelands don't look anything like the Wilsons, even in whiteface disguise, but the blonde wigs, feminine dress, and valley girl accents fool everyone.
- Your Mom: The Copelands pull this one off on the Vandergelds, who visibly struggle to keep up until their father arrives.
