Moving

Moving (1988)

*** (out of 4)

After getting the news that he's been laid off, Arlo Pear (Richard Pryor) must look for another job and finally finds one but it means he'd have to relocate his family from New Jersey to Idaho. At first they don't like the idea but what has to be done is clear so they head up to go West but run into one problem after another.

In my opinion Pryor was the greatest stand up comic in history. There really wasn't anyone better at that R-rated type of humor and he could take perfectly normal situations and turn them into comic gold. His stand up films are some of the greatest out there but sadly his talents really didn't translate to the big screen. His movies were mostly misses, which is too bad considering his talent. I know MOVING isn't technically a "good" film but I must admit that I have a nostalgic thing for it and for the most part it makes me laugh.

Again, if you're expecting a classic comedy or even a well-made one then it's best to not watch this film because it's kind of bland in ways and the direction is certainly lacking. What I do enjoy about the film is that it allows Pryor to play the nice guy that he has been doing throughout his career but they also let him enjoy a R-rating, which is something kind of rare for the actor. He really does a great job here playing the nice and calm guy who keeps having bad things happen to him until he snaps.

Pryor is great here and really works well with the role and there's also some nice support for him. You've got Randy Quaid playing a couple roles and he's a lot of fun as is Dana Carvey in his scenes. Both Beverly Todd and Stacey Dash are good in their roles and there's even a funny cameo by a legendary comedian that I won't ruin. There are some funny moments scattered throughout the film but I think the best moments are when Pryor simply snaps and goes on some foul-mouthed rants.

MOVING isn't a classic film and I'm not sure most people will enjoy it. I do find it to be rather charming in its own way though.

In this silly, but fun comedy from director Alan Metter(Back To School), Richard Pryor plays an engineer finds what seems to be the perfect job. The only problem is that the job is in Idaho, which means that his family would have to sell their home in Chicago and move out to Idaho. Several disasters occur as Pryor attempts to pack up and move across country, everything that could possibly go wrong does. The film is not exactly a laugh fest, but Pryor keeps the film entertaining with his great comic energy. Dave Thomas and Dana Carvey are fun in supporting roles, as well as Rodney Dangerfield as a gambling loan officer. Overall, a harmless film that benefits greatly from the presence of Pryor. 5.8/10.

Moving is a lightweight R-rated comedy featuring Richard Pryor as Arlo Pear. He's an engineer who loses his job in a merger but finds a new job that requires him to move from New Jersey to Boise, Idaho.

However, his family isn't happy about the move, especially his daughter Casey (Stacey Dash) because she wants to graduate first before leaving.

They do move and it seems Murphy's Law hits Arlo over and over again. From hiring a deranged man to drive his Saab to Boise, to criminal moving men, to buying a house in Boise from a crazy old man, it seems Arlo's mental state is being tested to see if it will break.

Moving seemingly would work great as a family film as it has that Cosby Show feel to it but for some strange reason they chose to make it an R- rated film and stunt its box office potential.

Regardless, Pryor is in good form here and seeing him react to his worsening luck over and over again is fun stuff. Randy Quaid also shines as his neighbor and deranged ex-Vietnam vet Frank Crawford, who childishly abuses Arlo. There are some cool small roles from the likes of Rodney Dangerfield and pro wrestler King Kong Bundy, as well.

Not the best Richard Pryor comedy out there but a good one and a lot better than the critics at the time opined. I just wonder how much better it would have been, critically and financially, if it were a PG film.

Mass transit engineer Richard Pryor gets a dream job in Boise, Idaho, but he is in New Jersey. Thus he has to move his family in this silly and disappointing would-be-laugh-a-minute-fest. Pryor seems old and tired in this one and he just does not seem the same without Gene Wilder around. Randy Quaid and Dana Carvey try to add supporting turns, but neither dominates the action the way they should. A poor film and a real disappointment. 2 stars out of 5.

One in a string of latter-day disappointments from Richard Pryor, "Moving" suffers most of all from an extremely weak script. It's a hodge-podge of half-baked comic ideas that are rarely taken to their potentially hilarious conclusion. Pryor looks trapped and ill-at-ease as a family man. Randy Quaid has some choice moments as the menacing "neighbor from hell," but Dana Carvey's part as a schizoid who applies to drive Pryor's car to his new location is too brief and under-developed.

There are a few laughs, but you'll more than likely be left wanting more than you'll get here. "Silver Streak," "Stir Crazy," or any of Pryor's concert films have MUCH more laughs than this film here.