MGM released “Soul Plane” to DVD renters and retailers this month. “Soul Plane” is available in both an unrated Mile-High Edition and an R-rated Special Edition. Although it might be the brightest plane in the hanger, that’s only because it’s the only plane in the hanger.

“Soul Plane,” obviously has no lofty aspirations. Its only concern is to garner laughs and there is no consideration to how those laughs are gained. This release’s comedic material consists of racial stereotyping, sexual innuendo and bodily functions.

The idea of spoofing an all-black airline isn’t necessarily the worst concept. There are endless possibilities. But I think they were lost along with the luggage.

The airline, started by Nashawn Wade (Kevin Hart) after he won $100 million in a law suit against another airline because that airline was deemed responsible for the death of his dog, is one one-liner after another. Wade names his company NWA — no not North West Airlines — Nashawn Wade Airlines. The motto of his company is “We fly. We party. We land.” The passengers of his airline check into Terminal MalcolmX before boarding Flight 69.

And it gets worse from there.

To insure no race is excluded from ridicule, the trailer trash Mr. Hunkee — pronounced “honkey” — (Tom Arnold) and his wife, son and daughter are on board as the token whites. There’s also a turbaned Muslim who’s dubbed “Osama” by his fellow passengers, and security.

“Soul Plane” does have some funny moments, mostly courtesy of the giant purple plane that can bounce up the runway like a low-rider courtesy of its custom hydraulic system. The plane boasts a nightclub, a casino, and an economy section called low class.

Although, judging from some of the lines and scenes, the movie was made to emulate the satirical comedies, “Soul Plane” can’t hold a candle to the likes of the “Airplane” or “Hot Shots” releases. In its first half, this release does manage to elicit a few laughs from its lampooning of modern airlines.

Whether it’s the luxuriously roomy first class that any airline traveler wishes they could spend time in or an economy class of cheap seats with coin operated steel school-type overhead luggage lockers and meals consisting of a bucket of KFC that passengers take one piece and pass the container back, the differing classes on board manage to be far more varied than expected. Business class, for example, can’t make up its mind, whether it’s a boxing ring, a casino or an exotic dance bar.

The film, unfortunately, lacks any real story line. As the movie progresses, it merely sets up gag sequences including an especially gross one involving a potato and a blind passenger.

Another problem, in my opinion, is that for a majority of the movie, the sight gags are the jokes, instead of having them in the background and the movie itself being funny.

Of course, with any knock-off of “Airplane”, there has to be a ‘plane in trouble, who’s going to land it’-style problem. In this case it’s the owner, Wade, with assistance from a mini-skirted stewardess who, in order to remember what the pilots did as they landed, has to assume various sexual positions while sitting in Wade’s lap.

I believe this release is aimed squarely at the same “urban” (read African-American) audience that Wade’s airline is targeting, it’s chock full of bling-bling jokes, pharmaceutical humor and an avalanche of sexual innuendo. I also believe the movie will be a turn off to the target market.

One black critic wrote, “...after watching this movie (which in my opinion set Black America back about 50 years!), I felt compelled to continue to play into the stereotype (all we good for is cursing, speaking ebonics, being loud and offensive, using drugs, having sex, running scams, and partying).”

“Soul Plane” never does more than mouth stereotypical jokes. It doesn’t break any new comedic ground in its efforts to point out the differences between black people and white people in a “what if” scenario. It does offer a few laughs and has some star power, but this ride is not worth the price of the ticket.

Cast: Kevin Hart, Snoop Dogg, K.D. Aubert, Method Man, Gary Anthony Williams, John Witherspoon, Tom Arnold, Ryan Pinkston, Mo’Nique, Angell Conwell, Dwayne Adway, Godfrey C. Danchimah, Missi Pyle, Arielle Kebbel, D.L. Hughley, Brian Hooks, Sofia Vergara, Yolanda Gill, Stacey Travis, Jennifer Echols, Loni Love, La La Vasquez, Sommore, Brian Mulligan, and Lil’ Jon

Soul Plane: Mile High (unrated) Edition

Rated: (* 1/2 out of *****)

Synopsis (Courtesy of MGM) “Soul Plane: Mile-High Edition” Why just fly when you can soar with soul! An all-star cast, including Tom Arnold, Kevin Hart and hip-hop superstars Method Man and Snoop Dogg, takes to the skies in this “relentlessly raunchy” (The New York Times) comedy about a full-service airline complete with sexy stewardesses, a casino and the hottest dance club at 30,000 feet.

Now in a Mile-High Edition with scenes not seen in theaters, “Soul Plane” is a raucous ride that gives “fly” a whole new meaning!

DVD extras

• “Boarding Pass: The Making of Soul Plane” featurette

• “The Upgrade” featurette on the director

• Deleted scenes

• Outtakes

• Cast audio commentary

• Survivor safety video

• Photo gallery