'Not everybody's going to get it': Marlon Wayans on reconciling box office success with bad reviews

Q29:16Marlon Wayans: From Scary Movie and White Chicks to his new life as a stand-up

It's hard to talk about Marlon Wayans without talking about his family. The actor and comedian comes from a long line of entertainers, including his older siblings Keenen Ivory Wayans, Shawn Wayans, Damon Wayans Sr. and Kim Wayans.

Some of the Wayans family's most popular works include the Scary Movie film series, the movie White Chicks and the groundbreaking sketch comedy series In Living Color, which his brother Keenen created as an alternative to Saturday Night Live.

"We were doing humour that hadn't been on television," Marlon says about In Living Color in a conversation with Q's Tom Power. "[It was] from a perspective and a point of view that the world had never really embraced. And it was our family humour."

Marlon has been acting, writing, producing and directing comedy for more than 30 years. His movies have grossed more than $1 billion at the global box office, but there has always been a divide between the fans and the critics. 

"The critics' scores were always low," he says. "I mean, when my kids look at the critics' scores on White Chicks, they can't believe themselves. They're like, 'Are you kidding me? It got two stars? Wow.'"

When you go see a Wayans movie, you have to be willing to take a joke … If not, maybe a Wayans movie ain't for you!- Marlon Wayans

But Marlon says he gives the critics grace because comedy is subjective and jokes can sometimes fly over people's heads. 

"There was a time I was more upset," he tells Power. "[I was] angry. I didn't understand. I even went as far as to be like, 'They're racist.' But I learned to give them grace because comedy is a tough art and not everybody's going to get it … When you go see a Wayans movie, you have to be willing to take a joke … and then you'll enjoy yourself. If not, maybe a Wayans movie ain't for you!"

Not one to rest on his laurels, Marlon is now taking his standup on tour through the U.S., showing audiences who he really is. 

"I'm still doing it with joy," he says. "I'm proud that I made my parents proud. And I still know I have so much more to do and so much further I'm going to go, and now it's time to really make myself proud."

The full interview with Marlon Wayans is available on our podcast, Q with Tom Power. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Interview with Marlon Wayans produced by Kaitlyn Swan.