Mixing blaxploitation, kung fu cinema, spaghetti westerns, and at least five other genres and sub-genres, the upcoming “Outlaw Johnny Black” is a genre lover’s dream. This crazy yet undeniably delightful concoction sees director, co-producer, co-writer, and star Michael Jai White giving an open-armed embrace to films and filmmaking from a bygone era. It’s chock-full of cool callbacks and it tips its cowboy hat to everything from “A Fistful of Dollars” to “My Name is Nobody” to “Blazing Saddles”. And that only scratches the surface of White’s many inspirations.

Sporting the tagline From the Brothers Who Brought You “Black Dynamite”, White’s latest has been called a “spiritual sequel” to that 2009 cult hit. “Outlaw Johnny Black” definitely exists in the same vein and is a movie that is almost certain to throw some people for a loop – specifically those unfamiliar with the genres and tropes it is spoofing or paying homage to. But what can I say? White has made a movie that is right up my alley.

The story kicks off in earnest after one of the best opening credits scenes of the year – a retro collage of music and imagery that could have been plucked straight out of a Sergio Leone spaghetti western. Johnny Black (White) is a sharpshooting gunslinger out to avenge the death of his father 25 years earlier at the hands of a cold-blooded ruffian named Brett Clayton (a deliciously vile Chris Browning).

Johnny is a notorious outlaw who is constantly dodging relentless marshals and bounty hunters all across the territory (there’s a hilarious running gag involving a wanted poster that had me laughing every time). One particularly close call sends Johnny fleeing across the dry arid plains. On the verge of dying, he’s saved by Reverend Percy Fairman, Jr. (played by co-writer Byron Keith Minns) who’s on his way to Hope Springs, Oklahoma to pastor a small church and propose to a lovely young parishioner named Bessie Lee (Erica Ash).

From there let’s just say things go a little sideways. Percy is believed to be killed and Johnny finds himself in Hope Springs awkwardly posing as their new preacher. Once there, we’re introduced to an eclectic collection of entertaining characters who Johnny must schmooze in order to keep up his ruse. He also learns the town has its share of troubles, namely an oppressive land baron named Tom Shealy (Barry Bostwick) who’s after the church’s property.

You can probably guess where the movie ends up, but it’s getting to that point that is so much fun. White has a blast picking at and playing around with age-old and well-defined genre tropes. And aside from one misguided sequence that doesn’t land at all, he delivers some really funny bits in the process. Yet White doesn’t just poke fun at everything. He has a genuine affection for genre filmmaking that finds its way on screen from the opening shot to the final scene.

And again, the crazy batch of characters play a big part. They’re played by a terrific ensemble who are all in on what White is going for. Among them is the plucky and straight-shooting Jessie Lee (Anika Noni Rose), her crackpot brother Elmer (Eme Ikwuakor), the spineles Mayor Williams (Gary Anthony Williams) and the equally spineless Sheriff Yarbrough (Tony Baker), the vivacious Sister Betty (Kym Whitley), the skittish Clancy (Tommy Davidson), the dogged Bill Bassett (Randy Couture), and the ever suspicious Marshall Cove (Kevin Chapman).

Again, not every joke lands as intended and there are a couple of instances of White simply trying too hard. You could also make the case that the movie didn’t need to be over two hours long. But what can I say? I soaked up every minute – admiring the throwback craftsmanship, trying to spot the many callbacks, chuckling at the subtle and not-so-subtle humor, and enjoying the handful of cameos, especially two at the very end that had me smiling like a kid on Christmas morning. Like I said at the beginning, this movie is right up my alley. “Outlaw Johnny Black” releases in theaters on September 15th.

VERDICT – 4 STARS