does this mean i'm old?













With 'Dance Flick,' it's wall-to-wall Wayans




Damon Jr., Shawn, Marlon, Craig and Damien Dante Wayans are the newest group of Wayans. Their spoof of teen dance movies opens Friday.





Yahoo! Buzz Digg Newsvine Reddit FacebookWhat's this?By Kelley L. Carter, USA TODAY
LOS ANGELES — Anytime the Wayans family gets together — and it almost doesn't matter which Wayans are present — a game of Make Me Laugh is sure to get started.
The goal: Outdo whatever the last person said with an over-the-top joke.

Of course in this family, the bar is set pretty high, and if you can't bring it with the likes of Damon, Kim, Marlon, Shawn and Keenen Ivory Wayans, then you might get your feelings hurt.

"We kill all the unfunny ones," deadpans Damon Jr., pausing to sip his Arnold Palmer cocktail during lunch Wednesday at the Four Seasons Hotel. "We throw them into a pit like in 300."

Everyone laughs at the thought; he's kidding, but there is some strange, twisted truth to it.

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On Friday, America will be introduced to a new crop of Wayans funnymen in the movie Dance Flick, a parody that targets teen dance movies.

The idea for the project came from the second generation of Wayans kids — the son and nephews of guys who have been delivering audiences knee-slapping laughter since the 1980s. The film stars Damon Jr., 26, and it's directed by Damien, 28, and co-written and executive-produced by Craig, 32. Uncle Keenen helped with the script; he and about 15 family members had cameos, including Kim, Shawn and Marlon.

The next generation of Wayans has been hanging out on sets with their uncles and Aunt Kim since they were youngsters, learning from them.

"I think what people would be most surprised about the family is that we're the same, but different. We all bring something to the table," Damien says. "Craig is hilarious. He's reserved, but when he comes out, he comes out in a major way. Damon Jr. is like walking animation, and I mean that in a good way. Me, I want the movement to vibe so much that I'm willing to do whatever it takes. Marlon is the adult walking animation, and Shawn is a thinker ... "

"Wait, Shawn is the thinker?" interrupts Uncle Marlon, who also co-wrote the script.

"Well, I mean, when you see Wayans, you automatically brand it comedy, and that's just because it's been done so well through the years," Damien explains, avoiding his uncle's glance. "A lot of us have a dramatic mind. Marlon, I tell him to this day the role that I loved him in the most was Requiem for a Dream."

Craig looks over at his uncle, who has hijacked Damon Jr.'s lunch.

"Not me! I actually laughed. I was like, 'Wow! Look at him doing drugs!' " Craig jokes.

Marlon doesn't let the nephews phase him one bit.

"I'm glad y'all appreciate my dramatic work. I'm going to do drama again. It's just not that many dramatic roles for brothers. I'll do more of it, but dude, I love comedy," Marlon says. "Oh, I am doing G.I. Joe, which comes out this summer. I play a hero. And I don't get killed in the first five minutes. And I get the girl."

Uncle Shawn, who also co-wrote the script, reminds his nephews that he has changed all their diapers at some point. He says that when the family gets together, he has a pocketful of cash and holds a joke competition with the younger kids.

"But they've got to be all original jokes," he says. So who's winning this one this day?

"Oh, we all are," Damien says diplomatically.

"Nope," says Uncle Marlon, raising his hand without looking up from his food. "Me."


Damon Jr., Shawn, Marlon, Craig and Damien Dante Wayans are the newest group of Wayans. Their spoof of teen dance movies opens Friday.
[Edited 5/21/09 5:08am]

Oh GOD

Talk about "they don't die, they multiply"

I think Damien Dante was in Malibu's Most Wanted. Not that I have seen it or anything.