Shawn and Marlon Wayans’ movies might not receive widespread critical acclaim, but their global popularity is undeniable. The brothers, along with eight other siblings, are members of the influential “First Family of Comedy”. Each sibling has carved out a career in the entertainment industry.
The third oldest, Damon, rose to international fame in major vehicles such as The Last Boy Scout, The Great White Hype, Major Payne, Bulletproof and Mo’ Money.
Shawn and Marlon wrote and starred in the 1996 movie, Don’t Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood. It was made for a meagre $US3.8 million and grossed over $US20 million. The duo also had their own sitcom called The Wayans Bros. But Shawn and Marlon’s major breakthrough was 2000’s horror spoof Scary Movie. It was made on a $US17 million budget and drew more than $US278 million in ticket sales. Their other films, White Chicks and Little Man, grossed $US113m and $US101m respectively.
Marlon spoke with NICK MILLIGAN ahead of his and brother Shawn’s visit to Australia for a live stand-up comedy tour.
Is there a lot of competition amongst the Wayans siblings?
It’s not competition in the negative sense, but we always try and top a joke. Whoever is funnier is funnier – but I never go out on stage and say, ‘You wait and see how much funnier than Shawn I am!’ I get mad when people try to tell me I’m funnier than my brother – I hate that.
Have you always sensed that you have a lot of fans in Australia?
I’ve never been [to Australia] to do stand-up, so I’m excited. People love us out there. The last couple of movies we’ve done have done really well in Australia. Australians really like to laugh, other cultures not as much. But Australians – you guys like to party. You guys have got a nasty sense of humour and I like that.
What can we expect from your live tour? Do you and Shawn appear on stage together?
We’re never on stage together. We shared a bed for 16 years, we’re not gonna share a stage. I go on [stage] first – he’s older, I don’t wanna get punched in my chest so I let him go on last.
How do your approaches to live stand-up differ?
[Shawn’s] a little bit more structured and he’s more of a technician. I’m more like ‘I don’t really give a hell, I just wanna go have some fun’. I don’t know what I’m going to do from show to show. Sometimes I’m just in the mood to do something different – I’ll do a character out of nowhere and then stay in [character] and have fun – to see if I get some laughs. There’s a method to my madness, I guess, but because I’m newer – I’ve only been doing it two-and-a-half years – I go out there [on stage] to have some fun. I know what I’m going to do, but then… I don’t know what I’m going to do. I know I’ll want to talk about a certain thing, but I don’t know where I’m going to take it sometimes. I don’t mind hearing the silence if it don’t work or getting a groan if I went too far. I like the audience’s reactions.
Besides your live tour, you’re also promoting your new comedy film, A Haunted House. Is it fair to say that you’re a workaholic?
I’m an Energizer bunny, I love to work– I do get a little off-put when I’m not working. I love creating – I’m already working on a sequel for A Haunted House.
Because you are nearest in age to Shawn, are you two closer compared to your other siblings?
I’m close to everybody, that’s the amazing part. There’s just one big bunch of love. But I think because Shawn and me shared a bed for 16 years, it kinda gets you really close.
The Wayans Brothers appear at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.