Soul Man
A privileged California student disguises himself as Black to claim a Harvard scholarship, turning a college farce into a volatile satire of race and privilege.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- irreverent
- satirical
- controversial
- 1980s movie night
- campus comedy marathon
What critics said
Critics broadly regarded the film as a misguided and insensitive racial comedy whose blackface premise overwhelms its potentially worthwhile social questions.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Mark Watson uses tanning pills, a curly hairstyle, and a false identity to obtain a scholarship reserved for African-American students.
The film presents blackface-like makeup as the foundation of its social comedy, prompting NAACP criticism and protests.
Mark's inability to pay Harvard tuition drives him toward a scholarship for which he is not eligible.
Mark's fraudulent transformation changes how classmates and faculty treat him while concealing his privileged background.
Films like Soul Man, and why
Tootsie
shared identity masquerade, social stereotyping, and broad farcical comedy
Back to School
shared college setting, fish out of water premise, and irreverent 1980s comedy
The Associate
shared racial identity deception, campus setting, and controversial social satire
Movie Details
- Director
- Steve Miner
- Release Date
- 1986-10-24
- Runtime
- 104 min
- Rating
- 5.3 / 10 (173)
Cast
- C. Thomas Howell
- Rae Dawn Chong
- Arye Gross
- James Earl Jones
- Melora Hardin
- Leslie Nielsen
- Ann Walker
- James B. Sikking
- Max Wright
- Jeff Altman
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Soul Man about?
- A privileged California student disguises himself as Black to claim a Harvard scholarship, turning a college farce into a volatile satire of race and privilege.
- What is Soul Man like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Soul Man as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Soul Man violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Soul Man.
- What did critics think of Soul Man?
- Critics broadly regarded the film as a misguided and insensitive racial comedy whose blackface premise overwhelms its potentially worthwhile social questions.
- Which films are like Soul Man?
- Films with a similar feel include Tootsie, Back to School, and The Associate.
- How long is Soul Man?
- Soul Man runs 104 minutes.
- Where can I watch Soul Man?
- In United States, Soul Man is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube.
