Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling

Richard Pryor direct, wrote, produced and stars in this film about a famous stand up comic who begins to rethink his life after catching himself on fire. If you've seen any of Pryor's three concert films then most of this film will be familiar since this is clearly an autobiographical film dealing with stuff we're heard Pryor discuss before. Everything from growing up in a whore house to his various marriages all the way to the fire incident, which nearly cost him his life. The director isn't the strongest in the world but Pryor's performance is right on the mark and the screenplay does a nice job at showing off these various stages in his life. The film has some very hard hitting moments and some touching ones just like his concert films.Not only is this movie funny, but it's also clever as in it's idea, of having a clone of the Richard Pryor character as his savior. As we know, all comedians have suffered severe depression or encountered some horrible times in their lives.Coked up, an alcoholic too, Jo Jo (Pryor) severely burns himself. Coming out of it, enter the other Pryor, the voice inside his head, the apparition, telling him to get his life back on track. Obviously, bits of the movie are inspired from Pryor's background. The movie starts with Jo Jo as a kid, living with his mother, who (hows this?) manages a whorehouse, so he gets to the savor the tasty sights through peepholes, or through having his ears pressed up against the doors, hearing those joyous sounds of sex. As he grows up into his late teens, he tells his mother he's gonna become a comedian. Obviously her initial response has her laughing aloud. So he leaves and toughs it on his own, while later becoming involved with two women, the latter, Debbie Allen, wanting to see him dead. This is a strong drama, too a comedy, that's balanced well, but more a drama.Richard's stand up stuff here is top notch, just as good as his real stand up, where both are potent, with their much undeniable truth surfaced underneath. You can't help thinking, some of the real Richard has been incorporated into his character, Pryor, just as good a dramatic actor, as a comedic one. The explanatory joke involving birth, really cracked me up. Watch out for Wings Hauser who Pryor knocks out, when finding him and his first girlfriend in an uncompromising position, doing blow whatever. An anti drug alcohol movie in part, this shows the pitfalls and struggles of the virgin comedian, the highs and lows they encounter, the humiliation and bitter disappointments, he must first endure.

Good quality

I'm so glad I finally got to watch this full movie. It was amazing. I think the reason this movie didn't do well was because it wasn't a comedy, as expected, and it was hard at the time to see Richard looking so bad in a few places. It was genius and I loved it. One of the few people who got to tell his story his own way during his life. Since, nowadays , they're just hijacking celebrities life stories and taking liberties with their story even while they're still alive it's a shame. Anyway, LOVED this movie. I put it up there with Dians Ross' 'Lady Sings the Blues'.

NA

I'm a true Richard Pryor fan from the time I was a child. I remember going to one of my friends house and his older brother would leave out the album (That N*****s crazy) and we would sneak and listen to it. I was hooked yI currently own most of his Vinyl records to this day.What more could anyone ask but to have a entertainer tell his/her lifestory and also relive it all (good & bad) by playing the role of themselves. I haven't seen or heard of anyone doing this. other folks have either played them or it was a biography. Jojo Dancer is a true hit based on the life of the comedian. It really shows the depth of a man that grew up in hard times dealing with liquor houses, drug abuse, prostitution etc but he managed to be THE most influencial comedian of the 20th and now 21st century. I HIGHLY recommend this film. For true Richard Pryor fans I promise, you will not be disappointed.

Great Movie about a Great Man

Love ❤ this guy.

excellent

The package arrived on time and in excellent condition. I would say that the service was very good but I have not been able to watch the film. That's £20 wasted. I have a LG BP250 Blu-ray/ multi-region DVD player (which plays virtually all DVD formats) but this disc refuses to load or function at all. Save your money and look for another format / region code. Not happy

I would recommend this DVD for everyone who likes Richard Pryor. It tells his real Life Story and its kinda sad how under priviledged Richard grew up.He could've been an better Entertainer if not cause of his Drug Problems,but it made Richard to the Person He was before He died . RIP Richard ,for me you were one of the best !!!!

Doesn't work in my uk DVD player