Customer Reviews

Friday Foster

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are only two special features on this DVD, and they both belong to Pam Grier. And that's reason enough to buy it! She has two nude scenes in this lackluster blaxploitation thriller that largely fails to thrill, and her sparkle is the only spark here. A good cast, including Jim Backus, Earha Kitt, Carl Weathers, Scatman Crothers, and Yaphet Kotto, is wasted here, but they try their best with what they're given. The movie is in widescreen and the image quality is excellent. There's the movie trailer and a scene and language selector, and that's it. For `70s blaxploitation genre fans and Pam Grier fans only, but that's quite a large audience!

"Friday Foster" is a light-hearted effort, not as violent or sexual as "Coffy" or "Foxy Brown" but is still enjoyable. As the title character, Grier plays a photo journalist for a fashion magazine who stumbles onto an assasination attempt on a prominent black politician. Following her nose, she discovers a larger conspiracy out to eliminate other black politicans. Still perfectly of the 1970's, it has its share of violence, including an unintentionally hilarious rooftop gun fight between Yaphet Kotto and Carl Weathers. Pam Grier still contributes her obligatory nude scenes, one in a shower, one in a jacuzzi, and of course one in a bed. Comedian Godfrey Cambridge has an interesting role as a gay club owner, and Ted Lange from "The Love Boat" makes a funny cameo as a sweet-talking pimp. Other blaxploitation regulars appear throughout the film as well.

"Coffy" and "Foxy Brown" still remain the ultimate Pam Grier films, but this one still stands tall with it's blaxploitation culture ("She's just all woman", "Damn I need a beer!"). "Friday Foster" is a worthy addition for the hardcore fans.

In 'Friday Foster' Grier is getting even closer to 'Cleopatra Jones' territory, but without the fun and style of that movie or its sequel. I was slightly disappointed when I saw it because it didn't deliver the typical kick a** madness you normally get from a Pam Grier movie! The storyline is tame, the forced political correctness is only pesky and the whole stuff lacks in violence and sex, so prepare for blaxploitation in its mildest form!

In here we have Pam Grier, as Friday- a magazine photographer, who is given the assignment of covering the airport arrival of the richest black man in America. But Friday gets more than she bargained for as this routine assignment turns into an assassination attempt. Because Friday was able to get some shots of the would be killers, her life is in danger. Soon, everywhere she goes, people end up dead. Friday's investigations lead her to corrupt government officials, a renowned preacher with an eye for more than the Bible, and something called The Black Widow.

Pam Grier is convincing in the lead, but not as tough as "Coffy" or "Foxy Brown"! This movie actually has one of the best supporting casts of any blaxploitation film, but fails to hold up on its end. If you want to be entertained somehow watch out for the performances of genre greats like Yaphet Kotto plays Grier's detective buddy, and Julius Harris is her boss. Plus there's Scatman Crothers ('Black Belt Jones'), Thalmus Rasulala ('Blacula'), Godfrey Cambridge ('Cotton Comes To Harlem'), Paul Benjamin ('Across 110th Street') and Carl Weathers ('Rocky'), as well as Eartha Kitt who is a hoot as a flamboyant fashion designer, Isaac the bartender from 'The Love Boat' (Ted Lange) and even inexplicably 'Gilligan's Island's Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus)!

This film does have some lighthearted tone in comparison to her other films. That's not to say there aren't plenty of killings, but it never feels as depressing, downbeat, or serious as something like "Coffy." It's a nice change of pace to see Grier laughing and joking with Kotto in many of the film's scenes. The action scenes are good and funny at the same time. One of my personal favorites is the rooftop chase with Kotto and Weathers and the second being the fashion show. The fashion line up was just as crazy because the models showed no form of expression going down the runway while doing a form a vogue-dance that sort of scared me a bit while maintaining a zombie like expression across their face, you have to see it in order to understand it.

I'm a fan of 70s Blaxplotation because it reminds me of my parents era and fashion sense, gotta love them. As I stated before "Friday Foster" may not be a spectacular film but it's still welcome in my movie collection.

This is my favorite movie of hers because you get to see more of her personality as an actress. Great transfer to DVD and the quality shows how beautiful Pam truly is.

Friday Foster may not be Foxy Brown, but it's well worth your time if you're into this genre. It does have a catchy little theme song! It doesn't have alot of the action and violence of other Grier films, it's more about unravelling a conspiracy. Jim Backus is given high billing, but only appears in one scene. Carl Weathers is at the bottom of the billing, but appears in most of the film-But that's a good thing, coz who doesn't like Carl Weathers? Yaphet Koto, as usual, is a joy, and actually gets a few laughs. For those like myself who occasionally fantasize coming home from work to find a naked Pam Grier in the kitchen making goulash, will enjoy the two topless scenes. Foster sure has no problem jumping into the sack with people in this one. Basically all I can say about Friday Foster is that it's a sure bet if you dig Pam Grier and/or blaxploitation movies. I know I dig.

Pam Grier Is Solid in this Film&She Looks as Fine as Always.This Film Captures The 70's Vibe Really well.ALot OF Action&Laughs through out.Godfrey Cambridge had me Rolling.After watching Him in Watermellon MAn or Cotton Comes To Harlem this is a Real Interesting Role.Carl Weathers went on to do Rocky 1,2&3.Yaphet Kotto a Great Actor who Has Done well in Both T.V.&Film.&Ted Lange who Played Issac on The Love Boat.it was a Very Important Time Period For Black Films.FOrget what The Critics Say these Films Kept Hollywood Rolling&Paved The Way for The Future.Worth Seeking Out.Their has Never Been Another Actress Like PAM GRIER.SHE IS ONE OF A KIND.

if you like 70s-movies and pam grier, you can't go wrong with friday foster.
one of the most entertaining blaxploitation-flick one can find.
buy it...now !

Pam Grier of the 70s will be remembered as Coffy, tough, sexy, no-nonsense heroine who blows her enemy's head away with a shotgun, but as a movie, for all its good, funky soundtrack, "Coffy" was dark and violent. Then, it is a welcome opportunity for her fans to see lighter side of her in "Foxy Brown," in which Pam Grier plays an assistant camera artist who finds some conspiracy going on.

The story has been already told elsewhere, so I won't repeat it here. All I can say is, it is not particularly original, but good enough to keep us interested. But what we should notice in "Friday Foster" is a group of well-cast, talented actors. In addition to Pam Grier, who this time round goes with less tears and nudity, and more smile, is helped by Yaphet Kotto (Michael Clarke Duncan of the 70s) but it is Eartha Kitt as "madame" who steals the show with her flamboyant speech at fashion show. Actions are done in a rather bland way, but still watchable, and watch out Pam Grier steal a black hearse to chase the hitman; she later hits another guy in the head with a bottle full of milk!! Especially recommended to beginners of the genre as starting point of blaxploitaion films.

Pam Grier is smokin hot in this blaxploitation classic...and enough "Jive" dialect to keep you laughing for days!!!

Pam Grier plays fashion photographer, Friday Foster. The plot centers around a conspiracy to assassinate black leaders, which Friday Foster gets caught-up in. In this film, Pam uses her camera, fleet feet, and sharp wits to foil the bad guys. She's not a pistol-packin' mama here, like she was in her other films.

Sure, Friday Foster isn't as hard-boiled as Pam's other Blaxploitation films. But it has more humor, and finesse than her other movies. Friday Foster was a role, where Pam revealed a surprising dexterity, as an actress. She was also allowed to be more glamorous as Friday Foster, than she ever was in either Coffy, or Foxy Brown.

Also Friday Foster had a much better supporting cast, than any of Pam Grier's other films. There was the superb Yaphet Kotto, as Friday's private eye friend, Cole Hawkins, who helps her nab the villains. Yaphet is very talented, and he really helps to carry this film. Other wonderful supporting actors in the film, include Eartha Kitt, Ted Lange, Godfrey Cambridge, and Gilligan Island's Jim Bacchas, as a sleazy politico.

I'd recommend Friday Foster to Blaxploitation film fans, who want to see Pam Grier in a classier, smoother role, than she was in either Coffy or Foxy Brown.