Which Way Is Up?

I first saw "Which Way is Up" on TV in the 80's, but the unedited version is superior. Richard Pryor plays three roles flawlessly in this moral tale of life,love, frailty, honor, and temptation. By chance he goes from a migrant worker, to a union hero, to a corporate pawn, while events occur and his life gets more and more complex. Hilarious as Loroy , the fruit picker turned corporation man, and his wild Father, and a shady Reverend. A must see for Richard Pryor fans and movie lovers. Lonette Mckee, his lady, is beautiful.Actually the casting was excellent throughout. Rent this one soon ! It will definitely leave an impression, as well as make you laugh a lot.

This is a remake of a story written by Director, Lina Wertmuller. It is the story of Leroy Jones, played very capably by Richard Pryor. Pryor steals the show here as he plays Leroy, a migrant fruit picker, his grouchy old father and the local minister. It is the story of Leroy, and his accidental rise to management. Leroy is manipulated by "the man", the president of the Agricultural conglomerate that employs Leroy and his friends. It does a very good job of showing just how one can be seduced by the appearance of power. Leroy loses everything that means anything to him in his rise to management at the "company". The segments where Leroy interacts with his "father" are too funny for words. Pryor doesn't have a great range of acting ability but what he does, he does the best.

For anyone wanting to experience the comic genius which was Richard Pryor, this movie is the starting point. This movie is often neglected. Most bios of Richard Pryor emphasize his concert films, many of which are good and hilarious. Some bios point out to his other movies like Car Wash; but his role in this particular film was far too brief, and was really a cameo appearance. Others cite movies like Stir Crazy or The Toy. However, in these movies his comic genius was either trivialized or squandered.

In this movie he was able to display the fullest array of his talent in one place. Pryor plays three roles in this movie. In the first role he plays the protagonist who is driven away from his home by corporation thugs, makes his life in the big city and returns home with his new spouse and the now changed family that he left behind. The plot and the protagonist is loosely based on the Lina Wertmuller film, The Seduction of Mimi. In the second role, he plays his father, which in reality is a concert character which is based on his own invention, Mudbone. In the third role he plays the Minister Lennox, another familiar Pryor invention.

The movie does have some drawbacks, primarily of which is the music, which is a faux-disco Hollywood standard soundtrack. At times, the movie seems a bit dated. What is not dated is the humor. The movie is hilarious and a showcase of the many sides of Richard Pryor. While Richard Pryor will be missed, this movie should not.

Pyror was genius! Seeing it again after 30+ years you have to really respect what was necessary to produce this movie in 1970's climate! Also pleased to see Bebe Drake, Margaret Avery, Marilyn Coleman, and of course Vonnetta McKee. Margaret and Vonnetta went on to have their own successes and I've always been proud of them but Bebe and Marilyn have turned out to be character actresses for black womanhood! I love them! They may not have the same name recognition as some of the others but they have truly endured through time! They are in so many different roles and bring something different to them all. They were outstanding in WWIU but I look forward to seeing them wherever they turn up!

Richard had that effect on me! When he was on there has never been anyone who could cause me laugh harder or gasping for breath longer. Dave Chappelle came close, George Carlin was in the neighborhood (he was a bit more cerebral later in his career), Eddie Murphy could from time to time, but for pure standup perfection and improvisation Richard Pryor ruled and for me he always will. He played three roles in 'Which Way is Up', one as funny as the other. However perhaps the Preacher role (Reverend Lennox Thomas) especially for the roles pure unadulterated hypocrisy due to the "Reverends" unchecked ardor and avarice (remind you of any of the Evangelists of today?) made me laugh the most but this whole movie was funny from beginning to end. Richard you left us too early, miss you man!