Customer Reviews

Mother Jugs & Speed [VHS]

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

After all these years the Peter Yates classic staring Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch, Harvey Keitel finally arrives on DVD. Take Cosby's humor, Raquel's sex appeal, Keitel's smouldering late 70's cool and one sweet ride of an ambulance, and you've got Mother, Jugs and Speed. Peter Yates' classic take on the ambulance industry in metropolitan Los Angeles gives us a little bit of everything in a quick, well paced film. Cosby's charm shines in one of his best roles i think as the cynical, no nonsense ambulance driver Mother Tucker. Just by looking at Mother's custom Rig, and patch covered jacket you get the impression that Cosby's character was not always an ambulance driver, but perhaps was once something quite differnt. Follow the F+B ambulance company and their staff of irregulars (Including Larry Hagman of Dallas Fame, and football player Dick Butkus) as they do their best to save the lives of their patients and hammer away at one another with a barrage of jokes, and one liners. They don't make comedys like this anymore where the car was just as big of a star as the trio named in the title. While normally found in the comedy section, the film does have an equal number of "dark" moments that let the viewer know that Yates wasn't just doing this for laffs and help to balance out the humor. The DVD transfer is crystal clear, and the slamming 70's soundtrack will be nostalgic for some, and new, and inventive to others. Another reviewer mentioned hearing Peter Frampton's "Show me The Way" playing in an early scene, and I always think of this film when i hear that song. Treat yourself to a 70's classic, and enjoy the ride, and pray that if you ever need the guys in white that he shows up wearing yellow sneakers with red socks, and goes by the name of Mother Tucker.

There are so few movies that are geared towards ambulance work. Mother,Jugs and Speed is in many cases one of the only movies on this topic out there. It is a very light hearted look at the possibilities (and past realities) of emergency medical services. I enjoyed it not only for the subject matter, but also for the cast. Bill Cosby truly portrays the "burned out" EMT who still cares for his patients while Harvey Keitel is a great straight man. Raquel Welch adds to the film not only with her screen presence, but also in bringing to light the plight of women breaking into this field. Larry Hagman's character is, in many ways, a disgrace to the profession, and yet he still provides you with a few laughs. I think this movie can be enjoyed by all, but most likely by those who are involved in emergency services of some kind. I consider it one of my favorites and I hope you do too!

I worked as a Paramedic in the 80's and everything in the movie with the exception of drinking while on duty was true! Dropped patients, guns on the truck, the food you ate (I always had 2 chocolate eclairs and a pink lemonade at 2:00 am), the scaring of the nuns, all of it true, especially the caring for the patient. You may have had a fun time while on duty, but the patient came first! I watch it everytime it comes on, and it brings back memories of the fun time I had!

Alternately ahead of its time and an unmistakable product of its era, the 1976 paramedic comedy-drama "Mother, Jugs and Speed" has finally made its way to DVD.

This uneven but underappreciated little B-movie drew obvious influence from the blood-and-pranks mixture of Robert Altman's "MASH," but you can also see its darkly comic influence on contemporary fare such as "Six Feet Under" and "Bringing out the Dead," and it poked fun at zip-ups gone wrong 20 years before "There's Something About Mary."

Bill Cosby and Harvey Keitel play Southern California ambulance drivers forced to contend with all manner of accidents and injuries, both amusing and tragic. The all-over-the-map cast also includes Raquel Welch, Allen Garfield, Dick Butkus, Bruce Davison, L.Q. Jones, Larry Hagman (as a creepy lech whose antics haven't aged well) and even Allan Warnick, the kid from the records room in "Chinatown."

With its gritty, widescreen look and those awesome blue lens flares so common to the period, "Mother" is a fine, funky 70's curio. Welch and Keitel (who had just been replaced by Martin Sheen in "Apocalypse Now") are stiff but the rest of the pre-Carter administration cast seems to be having fun, particularly Cosby, as the glib, laconic Mother. It's a bit strange to see the sitcom star playing an anti-hero, but his cool, sneaky performance breezily anchors the movie.

Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch and Harvey Keitel star in this comedy as Mother (as in Mother hen), Jugs (enuf said) and Speed (a cop busted for selling speed).

The story of two privately owned ambulance companies compete for the city contract in LA. our heroes work for F & B run by Harry Fishbine (Allen Garfield). Also as F & B staff is Larry Hagman & Bruce Davidson.

This 1976 comedy is cute in spots, but does show its age. Cosby and Keitel seems seasoned for their roles. Whereas Welch seem out of place with this comedy

The film seems grainy and washed out. The story is good, which saves this DVD release

Bennet Pomerantz AUDIOWORLD

I had never seen this movie before when I came across it in our local thrift store. After checking out the blurb on the back cover ("hilarious!") and seeing the cast (I've always liked Bill Cosby), I bought it with the expectation that it would be a good, entertaining comedy. Not so.

For me, this film was very offensive with near-constant foul language, violence, and two main characters hopping in the sack about 5 minutes after meeting. Some of the scenes I found particularly upsetting were the point-blank shooting of a man, a woman dying after giving birth (it happens, but it still upset me), and Larry Hagman's character molesting an unconscious woman in the back of his rig (this was the lowest point of the film, in my opinion). Unlike some other reviewers, I would not qualify any of those things as "amazingly funny" or "hilarious" or even mildly amusing.

Apparently, a lot of EMTs love this film, as it tends to reflect their own experiences. I can understand that, but for those of us who are not EMTs and who are looking for a mindless, enjoyable comedy, this movie is not something I would recommend. It left me feeling sick to my stomach. Even without the offensive parts, I thought the whole story really fell apart towards the end.

By the way, if you are a parent of young children, don't be fooled by the "PG" rating. Given the adult themes and ugly, frequent profanity, this one is definitely not for children.

My partner Bernie and I saw this twice in the theater shortly after it came out. We were in uniform and the ambulance parked in front of the theater. It did nothing to depict the professionalism we worked hard to promote, but as Bill Cosby said, while plugging in the tape and heading off code 3, "Showbusiness". What more can I say?

What a great script and a talented cast! Bill is hilarious as a beer drinking ambulance driver. Very funny performances from Larry Hagman and Allen Garfield. Harvey is great as a straight man to Bill. Then the gorgeous Raquel Welch is added to give the movie even more flavor! One of those rare comedies that is still funny even after repeat viewings. I would put this movie in the league of Blazing Saddles and Used Cars. Now why can't more movies like this come from Hollywood??

This movie is hilarious from a EMT/Paramedic stand point. Bill Cosby, Harvey Kitel and the ever so lovely Raquel Welch were all funny and witty. Great action and typical love story for a 70's movie. If you're looking for the regular Cosby, he's not in this one. Funny but serious also. Harvey Kitel and Raquel Welch play their roles great. Again from an EMS stand point...hilarious! Enjoy!

A great classic movie.

A movie that you don't expect from Bill Cosby as "Mother" Tucker a EMT that has has own way of dealing with the job and getting it done. Of course Raquel Welch portrying "Jugs" a woman entering into male dominated profession being an EMT.

And last but not least Harvey Kartell as Tony "Speed" Malatesta a cop whom is suspended without pay

from duty so he is working as an EMT.

There are sences that shows the reality of working as an EMT like life and death.

Also seeing Bill Cosby doing some thing different from the Cosby show is pretty cool.