3 Strikes
Encyclopedia
3 Strikes is a 2000 American screwball comedy film
, written
and directed
by DJ Pooh
. The film stars Brian Hooks
as Rob Douglas, a man just released from a one-year sentence in jail, who already has two strikes to his name. Since he is living under California
's Three strikes law
, Rob decides to go straight and leave the street life alone. However, things go horribly wrong for him as he gets involved in an altercation with the police upon the day of his release. The plot centers around Rob trying to evade the police until he can prove his innocence, for fear that he will be put away for good with a third strike. David Alan Grier
, Faizon Love
, and N'Bushe Wright
co-star. The film was a critical and commercial failure and currently holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes
.
Later that day, Rob makes a call to Tone, his friend from the old neighborhood, and asks him to pick him up when he gets out later. Tone says he will, and heads out to get him. However, while he is on the way, Tone gets caught up with a woman he just met, and tells his friend J.J. to pick Rob up from the jailhouse for him. Meanwhile, Rob is still in prison, talking boldly to all of the other inmates who've been pushing him around and abusing him the last few years.
When Rob gets out, he is surprised to find J.J. waiting for him instead of Tone, and somewhat reluctantly gets in the car with him to leave. Almost as soon as Rob gets finished telling J.J. how he never plans to go back to prison, the cops pull the two over. When they do, J.J. pulls out a gun and shoots at the cops, starting a major shootout. At this point, J.J. tells Rob that the car is stolen, and Rob, trying to allude his deadly third strike, takes off running. J.J. ends up wounded and detained by the police, while Rob hides out for the night at his girlfriend Juanita's house.
The next morning, Rob goes home to see his family. While getting reacquainted with everyone, he sees on the television that the police are still searching for him in connection to the shootout. Later, while eating breakfast, he gets a phone call from Tone, telling him that since he abandoned J.J. during the shootout, he is now on everyone in the hood's most wanted list, including his own. When Rob's father comes home, the two get into an argument, so Rob packs up some clothes and leaves.
Meanwhile, across town at the 77th Division of the Los Angeles Police Department
, Detective Jenkins is investigating the case and searching for Rob. He talks to Rob's parole officer Mr. Cortino and tells him to contact him immediately if Rob shows up. Soon after, Rob calls his P.O. to check in, and Cortino tells him he should give himself up before the cops catch him on the streets. While Rob is dealing with his various problems, J.J. is now in sick bay, restricted to a hospital bed due to his injuries. He makes a phone call to his friend Blue, and tells him that when the police come and question him about the shootout, he is going to put the blame on Rob. He also mentions that he was the one who had the gun and did the shooting. That same day, J.J. is raped by a gay janitor who is in love with him. The janitor would always walk pass and stare at J.J. and the only reason he got away with it is because J.J. insults the security guard and when the janitor comes in the room, he lets the janitor have sex with him.
Later on that day, Rob runs into his old friend Mike. After they talk, Mike gives Rob some money, since he is currently broke. Rob then calls Juanita and tells her to meet him at a fancy hotel, so they can enjoy a more romantic setting then her house, where her grandfather also resides. While Juanita and Rob are at the hotel, Detective Jenkins and his partner Officer Roberts (Dean Norris) make a stop at Rob's home to try to find him that night.
When Rob calls home the next morning, his mother tells him the police have been looking for him, and some girl named Dahlia called saying she had some information that could keep him out of jail. After Juanita calls Dahlia's number, thinking she's some other girl Rob's trying to talk to, Dahlia tells Rob to come to her place for a tape that could get him out of the situation he's in.
Before he goes to Dahlia's, Rob goes to see his friend Mike and asks him if he knows any good lawyers. Mike tells him he will talk to a good one he knows named Libowitz, then Rob leaves. Before Rob gets to Dahlia's, her and Blue, who is her son, get in an argument over the conversation she heard between him and J.J., which is the same one where J.J. admitted to being the one responsible for the freeway shooting. When Rob gets to Dahlia's, she tells him that she will give him the taped conversation, if she can have her way with him.
While this is going on, Blue goes and tells Tone that Rob is at his house, so Tone and his crew all go to get him. When Rob comes outside, they start to jump him but run away when the cops arrive. Rob is glad to see the police at first, then realizes they are still after him about the shooting. He leads the police on a high speed chase, calling Mike while under pursuit and telling him to bring his lawyer and newscaster Stan Wilson to the First A.M.E. church, where he will meet them. The police corner Rob and, though he's not armed, begin to fire shots at him after Detective Jenkins falsely claims he has a gun. Rob is able to get away, and again leads the police on a wild chase, this time while on foot. While Rob's on the run, Mike suddenly pulls up, and Rob jumps in his car with him. They are able to dodge the police and get to the church, where Rob gives himself up.
Sometime later at the L.A. County Courthouse, Rob's case is currently under way. In the final verdict, though he does not receive his third strike, Rob is sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating his parole. Rob's father tells him he will pick him up from jail himself when he gets out the next time. The film's epilogue states that Rob is eventually released from prison early due to overcrowding.
Cameo appearances:
. It peaked at the 190th position on the Billboard 200
and number 52 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
.
Screwball comedy film
The screwball comedy is a principally American genre of comedy film that became popular during the Great Depression, originating in the early 1930s and thriving until the early 1940s. It is characterized by fast-paced repartee, farcical situations, escapist themes, and plot lines involving...
, written
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
and directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
by DJ Pooh
DJ Pooh
DJ Pooh is an American record producer, rapper, screenwriter and film director.-Biography:...
. The film stars Brian Hooks
Brian Hooks
Brian Hooks is an actor, producer and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as Nick Delaney on the UPN television sitcom Eve.-Movie career:...
as Rob Douglas, a man just released from a one-year sentence in jail, who already has two strikes to his name. Since he is living under California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's Three strikes law
Three strikes law
Three strikes laws)"are statutes enacted by state governments in the United States which require the state courts to hand down a mandatory and extended period of incarceration to persons who have been convicted of a serious criminal offense on three or more separate occasions. These statutes became...
, Rob decides to go straight and leave the street life alone. However, things go horribly wrong for him as he gets involved in an altercation with the police upon the day of his release. The plot centers around Rob trying to evade the police until he can prove his innocence, for fear that he will be put away for good with a third strike. David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier
David Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
, Faizon Love
Faizon Love
Faizon Andre Love is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for roles in the films Friday, Elf, Made, and Couples Retreat.-Life and career:...
, and N'Bushe Wright
N'Bushe Wright
N'Bushe Wright is an American film and television actress, known mainly for her part in Blade. A native of New York City, she is the daughter of jazzman Stanely Wright aka Suleiman-Marim Wright...
co-star. The film was a critical and commercial failure and currently holds a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
.
Plot
The film begins with a voice-over narration from the character Rob Douglas introducing himself, and telling a few facts about his life. He talks about his family, his dreams, and how he plans to get his life together, when he gets out of prison, of course. We then see Rob and the other inmates in the cafeteria, watching the local news, which has a government official talking about California's three strikes law, which will put three time offenders in prison for a minimum of twenty-five years. This does not please Rob at all, as he's currently finishing his second bid in prison. However, this is Rob's last day inside, so he is not too down about his current situation.Later that day, Rob makes a call to Tone, his friend from the old neighborhood, and asks him to pick him up when he gets out later. Tone says he will, and heads out to get him. However, while he is on the way, Tone gets caught up with a woman he just met, and tells his friend J.J. to pick Rob up from the jailhouse for him. Meanwhile, Rob is still in prison, talking boldly to all of the other inmates who've been pushing him around and abusing him the last few years.
When Rob gets out, he is surprised to find J.J. waiting for him instead of Tone, and somewhat reluctantly gets in the car with him to leave. Almost as soon as Rob gets finished telling J.J. how he never plans to go back to prison, the cops pull the two over. When they do, J.J. pulls out a gun and shoots at the cops, starting a major shootout. At this point, J.J. tells Rob that the car is stolen, and Rob, trying to allude his deadly third strike, takes off running. J.J. ends up wounded and detained by the police, while Rob hides out for the night at his girlfriend Juanita's house.
The next morning, Rob goes home to see his family. While getting reacquainted with everyone, he sees on the television that the police are still searching for him in connection to the shootout. Later, while eating breakfast, he gets a phone call from Tone, telling him that since he abandoned J.J. during the shootout, he is now on everyone in the hood's most wanted list, including his own. When Rob's father comes home, the two get into an argument, so Rob packs up some clothes and leaves.
Meanwhile, across town at the 77th Division of the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
, Detective Jenkins is investigating the case and searching for Rob. He talks to Rob's parole officer Mr. Cortino and tells him to contact him immediately if Rob shows up. Soon after, Rob calls his P.O. to check in, and Cortino tells him he should give himself up before the cops catch him on the streets. While Rob is dealing with his various problems, J.J. is now in sick bay, restricted to a hospital bed due to his injuries. He makes a phone call to his friend Blue, and tells him that when the police come and question him about the shootout, he is going to put the blame on Rob. He also mentions that he was the one who had the gun and did the shooting. That same day, J.J. is raped by a gay janitor who is in love with him. The janitor would always walk pass and stare at J.J. and the only reason he got away with it is because J.J. insults the security guard and when the janitor comes in the room, he lets the janitor have sex with him.
Later on that day, Rob runs into his old friend Mike. After they talk, Mike gives Rob some money, since he is currently broke. Rob then calls Juanita and tells her to meet him at a fancy hotel, so they can enjoy a more romantic setting then her house, where her grandfather also resides. While Juanita and Rob are at the hotel, Detective Jenkins and his partner Officer Roberts (Dean Norris) make a stop at Rob's home to try to find him that night.
When Rob calls home the next morning, his mother tells him the police have been looking for him, and some girl named Dahlia called saying she had some information that could keep him out of jail. After Juanita calls Dahlia's number, thinking she's some other girl Rob's trying to talk to, Dahlia tells Rob to come to her place for a tape that could get him out of the situation he's in.
Before he goes to Dahlia's, Rob goes to see his friend Mike and asks him if he knows any good lawyers. Mike tells him he will talk to a good one he knows named Libowitz, then Rob leaves. Before Rob gets to Dahlia's, her and Blue, who is her son, get in an argument over the conversation she heard between him and J.J., which is the same one where J.J. admitted to being the one responsible for the freeway shooting. When Rob gets to Dahlia's, she tells him that she will give him the taped conversation, if she can have her way with him.
While this is going on, Blue goes and tells Tone that Rob is at his house, so Tone and his crew all go to get him. When Rob comes outside, they start to jump him but run away when the cops arrive. Rob is glad to see the police at first, then realizes they are still after him about the shooting. He leads the police on a high speed chase, calling Mike while under pursuit and telling him to bring his lawyer and newscaster Stan Wilson to the First A.M.E. church, where he will meet them. The police corner Rob and, though he's not armed, begin to fire shots at him after Detective Jenkins falsely claims he has a gun. Rob is able to get away, and again leads the police on a wild chase, this time while on foot. While Rob's on the run, Mike suddenly pulls up, and Rob jumps in his car with him. They are able to dodge the police and get to the church, where Rob gives himself up.
Sometime later at the L.A. County Courthouse, Rob's case is currently under way. In the final verdict, though he does not receive his third strike, Rob is sentenced to 30 days in jail for violating his parole. Rob's father tells him he will pick him up from jail himself when he gets out the next time. The film's epilogue states that Rob is eventually released from prison early due to overcrowding.
Cast
- Brian HooksBrian HooksBrian Hooks is an actor, producer and director. He is perhaps best known for his role as Nick Delaney on the UPN television sitcom Eve.-Movie career:...
as Rob Douglas - Antonio FargasAntonio FargasAntonio Juan Fargas is an American actor famous for his roles in 1970s blaxploitation movies, as well as his portrayal of Huggy Bear in the 1970s TV series Starsky and Hutch.-Biography:...
as Uncle Jim Douglas - Barima McKnight as Blue
- Bennet Guillory as Stan Wilson
- David Alan GrierDavid Alan GrierDavid Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
as Detective Jenkins - Dean Norris as Officer Roberts
- De'Aundre BondsDe'Aundre BondsDe'aundre M. Bonds is an American actor. The actor Samuel Monroe Jr. is his 'God' brother.Bonds has mostly appeared as a guest actor on television shows; however, he was also featured in the Spike Lee film Get on the Bus, Tales from the Hood and the Rick Famuyiwa film The Wood...
as J.J. - DJ PoohDJ PoohDJ Pooh is an American record producer, rapper, screenwriter and film director.-Biography:...
as Trick Turner/Taxi Driver - E-40E-40Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
as Mike - Faizon LoveFaizon LoveFaizon Andre Love is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for roles in the films Friday, Elf, Made, and Couples Retreat.-Life and career:...
as Tone - George WallaceGeorge Wallace (comedian)George Henry Wallace is an American comedian and actor. He is number 93 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time.-Early life:...
as Mr. Douglas - Harmonica Fats as Grandpa Johnson
- Meagan GoodMeagan GoodMeagan Monique Good is an American film and television actress and occasional film producer. Beginning her career at the age of four, Good has appeared in numerous commercials, television shows, feature films, and music videos....
as Buela Douglas - Mo'Nique as Dahlia
- N'Bushe WrightN'Bushe WrightN'Bushe Wright is an American film and television actress, known mainly for her part in Blade. A native of New York City, she is the daughter of jazzman Stanely Wright aka Suleiman-Marim Wright...
as Juanita Johnson - Phil Morris as Mr. Libowitz
- Starletta DuPois as Ms. Douglas
- Rashaan NallRashaan NallRashaan Harvey Nall is an American writer, director, screenwriter and actor of stage and screen.- Early life :Nall was born at Dominguez Hills Hospital in a community in the greater Los Angeles area. Rashaan literally raised on the border of Altadena and Pasadena, California is the youngest son of...
as T-Bird - Vincent SchiavelliVincent SchiavelliVincent Andrew Schiavelli was an American character actor noted for his work on stage, screen, and television often described as "the man with the sad eyes." He was notable for his numerous and often critically acclaimed cameo appearances.-Early life:Schiavelli was born in Brooklyn, New York, to a...
as Cortino
Cameo appearances:
- Anthony AndersonAnthony AndersonAnthony Anderson is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He has starred in his own sitcom All About the Andersons, as well as the Fox sitcom The Bernie Mac Show during the fifth and final season of the show. He is also known for his leading roles in television dramas such as K-Ville, The...
as Prison Guard (uncredited) - Big BoyBig Boy (radio host)Big Boy is a radio host currently heard on Los Angeles Rhythmic contemporary station KPWR in the mornings from 5 to 10, as well as numerous radio stations across the United States...
as Dre - Jerry DunphyJerry DunphyJerry Dunphy was an American television news anchor in the Los Angeles/Southern California media market. He was best known for his catchy intro "From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California, a good evening."...
as Himself - Mike EppsMike EppsMichael Elliot "Mike" Epps is an American stand-up comedian, actor, film producer, writer, singer, and rapper. He is best known for playing Day-Day Jones in Next Friday and the sequel-to-the-sequel, Friday After Next, and also starring alongside Ice Cube in All About the Benjamins...
as Dee
Box office
The film opened at #12 at the North American box office making $3,684,704 USD in its opening weekend.Soundtrack
A soundtrack containing hip hop music was released on February 22, 2000 by Priority RecordsPriority Records
Priority Records is an American record label, owned and operated by EMI, which has made a name for itself dealing primarily in hip hop, pop and world...
. It peaked at the 190th position on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and number 52 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
.