In this Americanization of the Lina Wertmuller film "The Seduction of Mimi", comedy legend Richard Pryor gets to play three roles. First and foremost, he plays fruit picker Leroy Jones, who through a series of circumstances is manipulated into a top job at an agricultural outfit. Leroy ends up bedding a succession of women. Among them: his wife Annie Mae (Margaret Avery), and impassioned activist Vanetta (Lonette McKee). His amorous adventures take up the balance of the running time.
Pryor also gets to play Leroy's cranky, randy old dad Rufus, and yet another oversexed character in the form of the Reverend Lenox Thomas.
If nothing else, this film, directed by Michael Schultz ("The Last Dragon") is noteworthy for being a very fine showcase for Pryors' comedic *and* dramatic skills. The material itself isn't always terribly funny, but Pryor makes it work. "Which Way Is Up?" similarly provides its lovely leading ladies McKee and Avery with good showcases. Some of the funniest moments involve the desperate Annie Mae bringing a marital aid into the bed she shares with her husband. While the script, by writer / actor Carl Gottlieb ("Jaws"), Cecil Brown, and an uncredited Sonny Gordon, does get serious and reflective, it's never melodramatic. It takes its main character on an interesting journey of self discovery where he realizes that he's forgotten what's really important and where he came from.
Lots of familiar faces in this supporting cast: Morgan Woodward, DeWayne Jessie a.k.a. Otis Day, Dolph Sweet, Tim Thomerson, Marc Alaimo, Victor Argo, Pat Ast, Carmen Filpi, Ted Markland, Paul Mooney, Harry Northup, Joe Turkel, and Hank Worden.
This is definitely recommended to Pryor fans, and nowadays seems to be one of his more forgotten vehicles.
Seven out of 10.
Pryor also gets to play Leroy's cranky, randy old dad Rufus, and yet another oversexed character in the form of the Reverend Lenox Thomas.
If nothing else, this film, directed by Michael Schultz ("The Last Dragon") is noteworthy for being a very fine showcase for Pryors' comedic *and* dramatic skills. The material itself isn't always terribly funny, but Pryor makes it work. "Which Way Is Up?" similarly provides its lovely leading ladies McKee and Avery with good showcases. Some of the funniest moments involve the desperate Annie Mae bringing a marital aid into the bed she shares with her husband. While the script, by writer / actor Carl Gottlieb ("Jaws"), Cecil Brown, and an uncredited Sonny Gordon, does get serious and reflective, it's never melodramatic. It takes its main character on an interesting journey of self discovery where he realizes that he's forgotten what's really important and where he came from.
Lots of familiar faces in this supporting cast: Morgan Woodward, DeWayne Jessie a.k.a. Otis Day, Dolph Sweet, Tim Thomerson, Marc Alaimo, Victor Argo, Pat Ast, Carmen Filpi, Ted Markland, Paul Mooney, Harry Northup, Joe Turkel, and Hank Worden.
This is definitely recommended to Pryor fans, and nowadays seems to be one of his more forgotten vehicles.
Seven out of 10.