Mia Patel
The 2004 American comedy film White Chicks follows two black male FBI agents who go undercover as white women to protect two hotel heiresses from a kidnapping plot. The film stars Shawn and Marlon Wayans, who are also co-writers, alongside Terry Crews, who performs a memorable rendition of A Thousand Miles by Vanessa Carlton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the song | A Thousand Miles |
| Singer | Vanessa Carlton |
| Movie | White Chicks |
| Year of release | 2004 |
| Genre | American buddy cop comedy film |
| Director | Keenen Ivory Wayans |
| Screenplay writers | Keenen Ivory Wayans, Xavier Cook, Andy McElfresh, Michael Anthony Snowden, Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans |
| Actors | Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, John Heard |
| Production houses | Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment |
| Box office collection worldwide | $113.1 million |
| Budget | $37 million |
| Gross collection in the opening weekend | $19.7 million |
| Gross collection in the United States | $70.8 million |
| Gross collection in other territories | $42.3 million |
| Rating on Rotten Tomatoes | 15% of 126 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.9/10 |
| Rating on Metacritic | 41 out of 100 |
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What You'll Learn
'A Thousand Miles' by Vanessa Carlton
"A Thousand Miles" is a song by American pop singer Vanessa Carlton. It was released as her debut single in February 2002 and became her biggest hit in the United States, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and remaining on the chart for 41 weeks. The song also reached number one in Australia and the top 10 in several other countries. "A Thousand Miles" is a piano-driven pop song with a string orchestral arrangement and has been described as "one of the most enduring songs of the millennium" by Billboard magazine.
The song found renewed popularity when it was featured prominently in the 2004 film "White Chicks," starring Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, and Terry Crews. In the film, a group of girls refer to the song as their "jam" when it's played on the radio. It's also played when Terry Crews' character, Latrell Spencer, sings it to Marcus Copeland (Marlon Wayans) and later to Brittany Wilson (Maitland Ward) and Tiffany Wilson (Anne Dudek). Crews' character is seen singing along and bopping his head to the song, showcasing his character's affection for it.
The inclusion of "A Thousand Miles" in "White Chicks" has been explained differently by the filmmakers and Carlton. In the film, one of the undercover FBI agents, who is posing as a white woman, refers to the song as the "whitest song ever" and plays it during an unwanted date with Crews' character, assuming he will dislike it. However, Crews' character surprises him by enjoying the song and singing along enthusiastically. This scene has become iconic and was recreated by Crews and Wayans to celebrate the film's 20th anniversary.
Vanessa Carlton shared her perspective on the song's inclusion in the film, saying that she found it funny. She recalled meeting the Wayans brothers at an event, where they expressed their admiration for the song and either thanked her for letting them use it or asked for her permission to do so. Ultimately, Carlton attributed the song's inclusion in the film to the Wayans brothers' fondness for the track.
"A Thousand Miles" holds a special place in the hearts of many, including those who enjoyed its appearance in "White Chicks." The song's popularity and cultural impact have endured, with Carlton's piano-driven melody and heartfelt lyrics resonating with audiences long after its initial release.
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Terry Crews' performance
In the 2004 film White Chicks, Terry Crews co-starred as Latrell Spencer, a professional basketball player who takes a particular liking to "Tiffany", one of the main characters. Tiffany is played by Marlon Wayans' character, FBI agent Marcus Copeland. In one of the film's most notable and iconic scenes, Crews' love-struck character wins a date with Tiffany at an upscale auction.
Crews' performance in White Chicks has been described as one of the funniest moments in the film. His rendition of Vanessa Carlton's pop hit "A Thousand Miles" became widely popular and heavily associated with the actor. Crews himself has expressed his love for the song, stating that it changed his life. In an interview with Vice, Crews gushed about the impact of the song, and his desire to go on tour with Carlton.
The scene has become a staple in pop culture, with Crews often reenacting it at various events and appearances. It has also led to a friendship between Crews and Carlton, who have stayed in touch over the years.
Crews' performance in White Chicks had a significant impact on his career. Following his role in the film, Adam Sandler was so impressed that he changed a role in The Longest Yard (2005) to give it to Crews, who had initially auditioned for a different part. Crews' performance in White Chicks showcased his comedic talent, which led to wider public recognition and more prominent roles in television and film.
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Negative reviews
"A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton became heavily associated with the 2004 film White Chicks, particularly for Terry Crews' performance of it in the movie. Despite this, the film received generally negative reviews from critics. Dave Kehr of the New York Times, for example, stated that "most movies require some suspension of disbelief. But White Chicks... requires something more radical than that. A full frontal lobotomy might be a good place to start."
Film critic Richard Roeper concurred, placing the film at number one on his list of the worst films of 2004, citing unconvincing prosthetics and racism. Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly was slightly more ambivalent, describing the film as "a tawdry excuse for a movie, but it has a handful of shameless giggles", and rated it as a "C"+. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times was equally unenthusiastic, giving the film one and a half stars out of four and commenting that it was "so dreary and conventional that it took an act of the will to keep me in the theater". He went on to name it the seventh worst film of 2004.
The film was nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actress for the Wayans brothers in drag, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Couple. It lost in all categories to Catwoman and Fahrenheit 9/11. At the 2004 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, the film received further negative nominations, including Worst Picture, Worst Director, Most Painfully Unfunny Comedy, Worst On-Screen Couple, and Least "Special" Special Effects, winning only the category of Most Painfully Unfunny Comedy.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a low rating of 15% positive reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. The consensus on the website describes the film as a "scattershot comedy that's silly and obvious". Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 41 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Despite the overwhelmingly negative critical reception, the film grossed over $113.1 million worldwide and has since come to be regarded as a cult classic.
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Cult classic status
The 2004 film White Chicks has been regarded as a cult classic, despite receiving negative reviews from critics upon its release. The film was nominated for five Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture, Worst Actress for the Wayans brothers in drag, Worst Director, Worst Screenplay, and Worst Screen Couple. It lost in all categories to Catwoman and Fahrenheit 9/11.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a low rating of 15% positive reviews, with an average rating of 3.9/10. Metacritic gave the film a score of 41 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Despite this, White Chicks grossed over $113.1 million worldwide, against a budget of $37 million.
So, what contributes to its cult classic status? Firstly, the film has a dedicated fanbase that finds it hilarious and full of crazy, unexpected moments. The Wayans brothers, in particular, have been praised for their comedic performances. The film's over-the-top comedy and social satire have also been cited as reasons for its enduring appeal. Some viewers have also argued that the film is not about making fun of racial differences but rather mocking certain social groups and the false lives that people can lead due to wealth.
Additionally, the film has several memorable scenes, such as Terry Crews' performance of "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton, which has become heavily associated with the actor. The film's impact is further evidenced by the announcement of a sequel in 2019, indicating that it has left a lasting impression on audiences.
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Filming locations
The 2004 American buddy cop comedy film White Chicks was directed by Keenan Ivory Wayans. The movie was filmed in various locations, including:
Chilliwack, British Columbia
The city of Chilliwack in British Columbia served as a major filming location for White Chicks. Several scenes were shot at specific addresses in the city, including:
- 45892 Wellington Ave, now the Vineyard Community Centre, was the store where Marcus, Kevin, and the other girls shopped.
- The group was parked in front of the Royal Hotel Chilliwack, located at 45886 Wellington Ave.
- When Kevin is chasing the robber, he passes by a crossing on Wellington Ave.
- The alley where Kevin attacks the robber and Marcus stops the car is located around 9340 Mill St.
Victoria, British Columbia
The production team also filmed scenes in Victoria, British Columbia.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver International Airport, specifically the Landmark Aviation private lobby at 4380 Agar Dr, Richmond, served as the filming location for the airport scene in New York. Another scene was filmed around 49 W Hastings St, which is where Marcus and Kevin's undercover assignment at the market took place. Additionally, Jericho Beach, located on Point Grey Road, was featured in the movie when the characters went to the beach.
New York, USA
The Hamptons in New York was one of the filming locations for White Chicks, reflecting the setting of the kidnapping plot in the movie.
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Frequently asked questions
The song "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton became heavily associated with the film White Chicks due to Terry Crews' performance of it.
In White Chicks, two Black male FBI agents go undercover as white women by using whiteface to protect two hotel heiresses from a kidnapping plot targeting socialites.
White Chicks stars Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Jaime King, Frankie Faison, Lochlyn Munro, and John Heard.
White Chicks was released in theatres in the United States on June 23, 2004.
White Chicks grossed $19.7 million in its opening weekend in the United States and finished with a worldwide total of $113.1 million against a budget of $37 million.
