Jackie's Back!

I discovered this mockumentary in a rather serendipitous way; I was reading the liner notes of Grace Slick's Great Society album (check it out) and in an interview she said she was interested in acting, so I checked IMDb to see if she had ever done that and she hadn't except for a cameo in Jackie's Back.

This is a terrifically funny movie with a wondrous performance by Jenifer Lewis as a diva on the comeback trail. The movie is a constant string of gags, and while they don't all work, enough of them do to make the overall effect very entertaining.

The movie also may hold a record for cameos. A ton of entertainment people play themselves, and many of the bit parts are from fairly well- known actors. Of particular note is a hilarious bit by David Hyde Pierce as a deaf pianist.

The ending is a bit sappy, but why not end with a little heart?

It's also the most Lifetime Network part of the series, and I've got to say, I'm really curious how this wound up there. I think of Lifetime movies as being about white women struck by tragedy. Perhaps I'm wrong?

Jackie's Back should be remember for three things. 1/ Jenifer Lewis'scene stealing performances. She completely shines in this movie. 2/ The mockumentary style of the film. Think: Best in Show, A Mighty Wind. and 3/ The cameos. The cameos in this movie are of the best that i think i have seen. You've got Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Chris Rock, Sean Hayes, Ricki Lake, Rosie O'Donnell, David Hyde Pierce, Melissa Etheridge to name a FEW!

Jackie's back must not be taken too seriously or as a piece of cinematic history. It is not Oscar worthy script, but it's damn hilarious. Sit back, relax and watch the celebrities bag the s@$! out of Jackie Washington.

I watched this for the ever-wonderful Tim Curry but was won over by the total package: this is a sly, deadly funny mockumentary that skewers diva ego, blaxploitation films, and the music industry, along with just about everything else that can be squeezed into the space of two hours. Jenifer Lewis is hilarious as the fiercely vain diva, and Tim Curry's dry pomposity is the perfect foil. The film's one flaw is the unlikely, unfunny ending in which all the deliciously evil humor succumbs to a saccharine feel-good production number and Curry, impossibly, grows to love the harpy he's been interviewing. In spite of the letdown of the ending, this is still a sharp, energetic send-up with lots of great surprises, including the priceless cameo by David Hyde Pierce (of Frasier fame). If this is ever aired again, set your VCR: it's a keeper.

I'm a huge Tim Curry fan, so I initially watched this for that reason, but I have to say, this is one of the funniest movies I'd seen in a while. "Jackie" is a fallen diva, descended from George Washington (according to her), about to make a comeback. I loved all the cameos, you can tell just by the people willing to make cameos in this that they thought it was a hilarious concept. The end is a bit too sappy, but I can forgive that. LOved "The Milkman".. my favorite scene is Jackie saying, "I never stabbed him with no afro pick... he FELL on that afro pick" and then the indentations on Milkman's forehead.... just beautiful! Great movie... I highly recommend it!

I saw this movie when it originally broadcast on Lifetime in 1999. I have not seen a made for TV/Cable movie with a primarily African American cast that was this hilarious. At times, I had tears in my eyes. I simply love Jennifer Lewis anyway. She has that natural flair for comedy. Whoopi had me yelling in laughter in each scene in which she appeared. I could not believe the folks that had cameo's and figured they had to do this for little or no pay. Weezy (Isabel Sanford) as "Play Mama"?! The laughs just kept coming. My recommendation for everyone is to see this movie, rent it, buy it, watch it a friends but you have to see this. If you're down or blue, you won't be after this one. Great job on this project by all involved!!