Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling poster & wallpaper
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Richard Pryor, Debbie Allen, Art Evans, Fay Hauser, Barbara Williams ... see more see more... , Carmen McRae , Paula Kelly , Diahnne Abbott , Scoey Mitchell , Billy Eckstine , E'Lon Cox , Gary Allen , Jack Andreozzi , Martin Azarow , J.J. Barry , Tanya Boyd , Virginia Capers , Gloria Charles , Frederick Coffin , Mary Bond Davis , Dennis Farina , Ken Foree , Michael Genovese , Rod Gist , Dennis Hayden , Sam Hennings , Michael Ironside , Charles Knapp , Joanna Lipari , Valerie McIntosh , Michael Prince , Beau Starr , Marlene Warfield , Ludie Washington , Dean Wein , Michael Williams , Wings Hauser , Rocco Urbisci , Jimmy Binkley Group , Richard Daugherty , Charlie Dell , Howard L.W. Fortune , Sig Frohlich , Dr. Richard Grossman , Teri Hafford , Alicia Shonte Harvey , Edwin Hausam , Linda Hoy , Rashon Kahn , Jo Ann Mann , Erika Marr , Geraldine Mason , Dorothy McLennan , Angella Mitchell , Tracy Morgan , Kiblena Peace , Deon Pearson , Laura Rae , Edy Roberts , Elizabeth Robinson , Roxanne Rolle , Erastus Spencer , Dewayne Taylor , Robin Torell , Cheri Wells , Reuben Cannon , Bebe Drake

Popular African-American comedian Jo Jo Dancer is severely burned while free-basing cocaine. Producer/director/writer Richard Pryor insists that the movie is not autobiographical. While hovering betwe... read more read more...en life and death, Dancer flashes back to his childhood, when he grew up in a brothel. Producer/director/writer Richard Pryor insists that the movie is not autobiographical. Dancer decides to become a comic, but has a great many difficulties rising to stardom until he begins making scatological comments about race relations. Producer/director/writer Richard Pryor insists that the movie is not autobiographical. As he rises to fame, Jo Jo has problems controlling his drug addiction and womanizing. Producer/director/writer Richard Pryor insists.....Well, you've caught on by now. If one were able to excise the excruciatingly boring "introspection" scene, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling would stand as an excellent testimonial to Richard Pryor's cutting-edge comic brilliance. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

65% liked it

3,127 ratings

Critics

55% liked it

11 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Richard Pryor

Release Date: May 2, 1986

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DVD Release Date: February 19, 2002

Stats: 93 reviews

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Richard Pryor Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling
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Flixster Reviews (93)

  • mikelclayton
    January 13, 2012
    mikelclayton
    It isn't the best directed film, but the film excels most when Pryor is allowed to illustrate very painful, true elements from his life (he maintains this film isn't autobiographical, but since he's pretty much the only black comedian raised in a brothel with several wives, a dru... read moreg issue, and an accident that set him on fire while freebasing, it is clear that is not entirely accurate). Whether it be the burning accident that almost took his life (which frames most of this story), his destructive behavior in each of his many marriages, his conversion from a Bill Cosby type act to a dark and profane but brilliant social commentator, the film touches on these elements in a way that brings them to life and Pryor's comedic virtuosity is constantly evident. The film falls flat when it is pulled away from Richard, especially during the nightclub scenes, and the severely 80's soundtrack from Herbie Hancock is pretty camp at this point. It is a very flawed film with some secondary performances that are wildly forgettable and an "Its a Wonderful Life" type theme that has mixed results (sometimes its hilarious, sometimes heavy handed), but it still is a treat and a real insight for fans of the comedian.
  • SonnyLighstrome
    January 4, 2008
    SonnyLighstrome
    The somewhat true/somewhat made up audiobiography movie about the late, GREAT Richard Pryor. Parts of this movie are at various turns: Funny, painful, insightful, and obvious BS. So...I give this the rating it deserves...a mixed one for a mixed movie. Still, worth a watch unti... read morel the Bio Pic happens.
  • dharp3r
    August 2, 2007
    dharp3r
    Although this movie could've been better, i think it's also underrated. A lot of critics didn't like it but it's not as bad as they make it out to be. Lots of funny scenes in this movie.

View All Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling Reviews

Critic Reviews

Cole Smithey
October 11, 2008
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com

Awesome!

James Sanford
January 23, 2004
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette

Completely forgettable

Jonathan R. Perry
August 3, 2002
Jonathan R. Perry, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

The sorrow is real, the pity is palpable - but Richard Pryor should have let someone else film his life story.

Jeremy Heilman
March 11, 2002
Jeremy Heilman, Apollo Guide

If it hadn't been directed by its subject, it would have been a great disservice. As such, it's just a major disappointment. Full Review

Roger Ebert
December 6, 2005
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
August 30, 2004
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
September 28, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Emanuel Levy
June 13, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

Carol Cling
October 10, 2003
Carol Cling, Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

Michael Drakulich
December 11, 2002
Michael Drakulich, Star Newspapers (Chicago, IL)

No review available.

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  • Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling is the autobigraphical story about what drug-addicted comedian? Hint: He wrote, directed and starred in it himself.  Answer »
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