There are a lot of theories on what is racist and what isn't. Or who is the most racist and who might have a right to be. I'm not here to attempt to clear up anything for anybody, as this subject isn't my area of expertise, and not a subject I find all that entertaining. Although when it comes to comedy, all bets are off for me. There are plenty of dark subjects that CAN be funny. Not always, and especially if not timed all that great, but it's a thing, nonetheless. They don't call it dark comedy for nothing, and ultimately, comedy is comedy, which only has one purpose. Today's movie is a comedy, and at times, it may sound like a dark one, but I'm not so sure after watching it. And as you probably gathered, racism plays a big role in making this movie what it is. However, don't let that turn you away because it all comes from a good place in the end. Denzel Washington's first role, in a very unlikely comedy for the times, and one that has been lost to the ages of sorts, but deserving of some love now more than ever. This is Carbon Copy.

Walter Whitney is currently living the good life, as he's been doing for some years, now. In a way, the good life, and in a way, a cold, lonely life without love, laughter or support. Walter walked away from the woman he loved years ago in favor of the family he is supposedly now part of. A wealthy, powerful family that has provided him with a place in the company and in their gated community. And in a way, in their lives, while treating him with just enough respect to keep him around. Walter doesn't ask questions. He just goes to work and enjoys the good life, considering himself lucky that he doesn't have to bust his ass for what he gets. Maybe if Walter actually thought about things, perhaps he'd realize that he doesn't really belong here.

Things are soon about to change drastically for ol' Walter. And when it's all said and done, he just might come out of it a better, wiser man. However, there may be some growing pains along the way. One day, a 17 year old black kid named Roger Porter, drops by the office with some bad news. Roger's mother, the woman Walter left all those years ago, has died. While Walter clearly doesn't care much for the young man, he is noticeably upset by this. Almost as upset as he is by the news that Roger is also HIS son. When Walter left Lorraine, he didn't know it, but he was leaving his own family. His real family. Comfortable with his current surroundings, Walter isn't in the mood to be rocking any boats. He has to figure out something, and fast because this kid seems to think he is owed something. While he's not super close with any of them, Walter knows his wife and her father well enough to get that this simply will not fly.

Roger, who is a total smart ass, by the way, isn't shy about suggesting adoption, but Walter won't hear of it. Instead, he thinks up a plan that might get Roger's foot in the door while he figures out what to do about this. Walter tries convincing the wife that they should partake in this trendy program where rich families take in "colored orphans" for the summer. The plan works, as the wife is cleverly talked into seeing this as an attractive offer. Things go smoothly until the wife and step-daughter make it clear that Walter ultimately has no say in this or anything that goes on in the house. Angered by such arrogance, and eager to make a point, Walter blurts out his secret. The young black kid they're letting sleep in the garage is actually Walter's son. Stupidly thinking this news would increase the level of hospitality, Walter is clued in on a cold, hard truth he probably already suspected: Walter is considered very much expendable by everyone in this family, and if he was to get too out of line, well, he might just find himself homeless... and jobless!

I'll just say it. As nonchalant as they are about it, it's pretty obvious that Walter's family are not only a bunch of racists, but apparently blatant white supremacists. It's almost like they think that by associating with this kid that they're giving the entire race an advantage it doesn't deserve, screwing up the natural order of things. A belief that they supposedly stand by so strongly, they would be willing to cut one of their own loose. However, it would probably take far less for them to send Walter packing, and that's actually what bugs him at first. Not so much the racism, but the principle. Walter is soon informed that his cushy job is no more as his credit cards are confiscated. And if that wasn't enough, Walter eventually learns that every single paycheck he has earned for the last 17 years was put in an account which is in the wife's name, only. Jobless, nearly penniless, his lawyer won't help him, his friends shun him. Apparently, there were entire communities in 80's California that hated black people THIS much. As Roger observes all of this, seemingly clueless, it becomes clear that Walter is screwed.

With poverty ahead of him and a seemingly dependant, smart ass son following him around, Walter has to dig down deep and figure something out quick. After surprisingly no luck finding work, Walter ends up settling for hard labor. This earns him just enough for him and Roger to live like shit while Walter waits for the kid to reach adulthood. Maybe while Walter is rebuilding his life and dignity, he will also learn a thing or two about himself, as well as a lesson in equality. And with a little luck, maybe Walter will find some happiness along the way.

Yeah, I'm not convinced Denzel was the best pick to play half-white but that's neither here nor there, and he was pretty good in this, just the same. You get the idea his character is smarter than he lets on, but you're never sure to what extent. Roger is just pushy enough to make things a little more difficult for Walter, but never without a smile. This is one unique film with an unusual commentary on racism. I have to say, I found it all quite interesting and very much worth talking about. When reading about this movie, I wouldn't have expected all the racism to be expressed so dryly and casually. And George Segal's character of Walter makes the humorous aspect of it all work well. While never treating his own son more than half-civil for obvious reasons, Walter still has the nerve to play the sole victim in this story. A story about a man so stubborn and proud, he will stop at nothing to prove that he can make it without the insecure tyrants who so easily casted him aside. All this for refusing to cast out the blackness from his life. As we the viewer watch Walter continuously fall on his ass, we wait patiently for him to get over himself. To move past his own damaged pride enough to realize exactly how wrong all this really is, and that maybe he's not the only person to ever be treated unfairly. All I can say is this movie doesn't disappoint on any level. 6/10