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Richard Pryor, Cicely Tyson, Alphonso Alexander, Kia Cooper, Edwin de Leon ... see more see more... , Jimmy Hughes , Edwin Kinter , Tami Luchow , Angel Ramirez , Janet Wong , Robert Christian , George Coe , Bill Quinn , Fred Carney , Roy Jenson , Luke Andreas , Earl Billings , Nick Dimitri , Peggy McCay , Inez Pedroza , Morgan Roberts , Gary Goetzman , Paul Mooney , Paul Gardner , Ben Gerard , Vern Taylor , Edwin DeLeon

It's The African Queen meets Richard Pryor in this schmaltzy and salty attempt by Pryor to appeal to the family crowd. Pryor plays Joe Braxton, an inept burglar whose parole officer Donald (Robert Chr... read more read more...istian) wants to help out. Knowing that Joe is an excellent mechanic, he refers him to Vivian Perry (Cicely Tyson), the director of a school for emotionally disturbed children. The school is about to close for lack of funds, and Vivian wants to flee Philadelphia with eight of her charges and get to a farm in Washington State where the children can grow up in the fresh air and away from the urban environment. Joe is enlisted to drive the bus, which continually breaks down en route, permitting Joe plenty of time to interact with the kids -- taking them fishing, teaching them strip poker, and convincing a Vietnamese girl not to sell her body. The prim and proper Vivian holds up her nose at the vulgar and sloppy Joe, so it is inevitable that at journey's end the two will find true romance. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

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62% liked it

4,292 ratings

R, 1 hr. 33 min.

Directed by: Cicely Tyson, Oz Scott, Richard Pryor

Release Date: May 22, 1981

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DVD Release Date: October 19, 1999

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Stats: 114 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (114)

  • ajv2688
    January 10, 2011
    ajv2688
    Although the story is predictable and familiar, Pryor's comedy is what is showcased in this movie, and he's really funny. if you're a fan you should see this movie.
  • oakman67
    March 20, 2012
    oakman67
    Richard Pryor and kids proved not to be a winning combination and acclaimed actress Cicely Tyson seemed way out of place as his love interest. Tried to be heartwarming but failed and the laughs were contrived. Pryor is always amusing to watch but this is not his best by any means.
  • The80sExpert
    April 27, 2010
    The80sExpert
    It seems every comedian has to do one of these movies with kids for some reason, not all of them being that good, but I really enjoyed this movie, Pryor is hilarious and there's some real exciting scenes. I would highly recommend this movie to anyone who likes Pryor's comedy.
  • jackass001
    April 27, 2009
    jackass001
    wow this film is great by richard pryor are greatest performed with an 8 kid & the teacher for the road trip.
  • terantridell
    March 20, 2009
    terantridell
    This is a timeless comedy. To the story to the soundtrack (Roberta Flack). I love the at the end of the movie when my jam comes on (dah dah dah dah, dah dah, dah dah,da da, dah dah dah dah dah dah)
  • phantopp
    July 28, 2008
    phantopp
    "Joe" (the late Richard Pryor) is a foulmouth con man/thief who has been in trouble with the law in the past for most of his life. When he gets arrested again, he is brought in front of a judge (Bill Quinn) and is assigned community service.

    He is assigned as a bus driver for... read more special needs students and their teacher (Cicely Tyson), who is taking the students, who the community has shunned, from Philadelphia to a farm in Washington state.

    At first, "Joe" is not happy with his situation and does not like what he has been forced into. However, he slowly learns that there is more to life then himself.

    The first thing you'd expect from a Richard Pryor movie is jokes laced with four-letter words. There is that, but they basically stop about half-way through the movie. Pryor keeps the laughs going, but they aren't side-splitting jokes. Many of the jokes, in fact, only produce some good chuckles.

    There are some good performances in the cast. And, as "Joe" begins to warm up to the kids, you get to see some fair chemistry between them and Pryor. In fact, Pryor's performance is probably the best. "Joe" starts off as a street-wise punk, but slowly becomes a loving man who now knows there are people in more need than he. Pryor shows off the transformation really well. Tyson does a good job herself, and has pretty good chemistry with Pryor and especially the children. To me, it looks as if Pryor and Tyson took time to get to know their young co-stars and began to care for them to the point that they brought that to the screen.

    If you ask me, the music is not great. The movie was released in the early 1980's, but sounds like pop from a decade earlier. The music, with the theme song sung by Roberta Flack, is not memorable. The theme song, which you hear a few times during the film, is not even catchy. If the theme song was released today, I can pretty much guarantee it wouldn't chart on Billboard.

    The wardrobes are typical for the time the movie was released, and nothing really stands out. It is a trip to see the clothing of when I was 10 though.

    I personally wouldn't put it in my Top 10 "Must See" movies, but I would probably put it somewhere on the low side of my Top 5 choices for rent if my first movie wasn't available.
  • manly500usa
    February 10, 2008
    manly500usa
    Joe Braxton is an ex-con who has been given a second chance to freedom after violating his probation. He has been hired by a school teacher named Vivian Perry to repair and drive an old school bus and drive a group of Special kids to Ms. Perry's Washington Farm from Philadelphia,... read more Pennsylvania to give them a new home after The Clarmont Center for Children is shut down by the city. The kids have severe mental problems and Joe is not looking forward to the trip at all, but Joe later bonds with Vivian and the children, offering his support and love and changes his outlook on life. But Donald, the social worker and Vivian's lover who gave Joe his break is hot on their tail and wants Joe back in prison. Joe and Vivian must now prevent Donald from sending the children back to Philidelphia where they'll have no future.
  • emeka79
    June 24, 2007
    emeka79
    Imagine Richard Pryor as your bus driver to school. Do you think for one minute he would take most of the mess you gave yours growing up?? Hell no. A road trip with a bunch of troubled teens with him driving the bus was bound to be funny. The only fault in this is language...in 1... read more981 you just wasnt gonna get away with that with kids but it still makes for a very funny Pryor movie. R.I.P
  • mpghoul1973
    January 3, 2007
    mpghoul1973
    One of my favorite Pryor films. Maybe its cause i watched it 100000 times when i was a kid. Still funny as shit though.

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Critic Reviews

Steve Crum
June 7, 2007
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com

Richard Pryor in his prime but the movie is mediocre.

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Cole Smithey
March 4, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

No review available.

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
August 16, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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Bustin' Loose Trivia

  • Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder did not play in this movie together?  Answer »
  • In the 1981 movie Bustin Loose, Richard Pryor drives a group of kids from what major city to a farm outside of what major city?  Answer »
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