Little Man

Calvin Sims, a tiny timebomb of a criminal freshly released from prison, teams with his slower-witted brother Percy to steal a priceless diamond for a menacing mobster named Walken. The caper goes awry when Calvin ends up in the possession of a savvy executive, Vanessa Edwards, and her husband Darryl, who has his own ambitions. Percy hatches a plan to have Calvin pose as an infant to slip into the Edwards home and recover the jewel, setting off a weekend of farcical misadventure. As luck and bad decisions collide, the heist spirals into a comically tangled web that unsettles the couple and puts everyone on the line. The chase snakes through neighborhoods, turning ordinary streets into stages for pratfalls.

Released in 2006, Little Man was directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans and written by Marlon and Shawn Wayans, based on an original screenplay. It showcases their humor and features Kerry Washington, Tracy Morgan, and John Witherspoon, alongside a supporting cast.

The film sparked conversations about humor and representation, as the Wayans brothers push physical comedy to new extremes. It drew attention to how dwarfism is used in mainstream jokes and how audiences respond to such humor within a modern crime caper. Its reception sparked debates about sensitivity in humor today.

Critical reception was mixed, with some praising the brisk pace and cast energy while others criticized crude jokes and a thin plot. The film looks at deception, loyalty, and the clash between street level schemes and suburban life.