Customer Reviews

Richard Pryor Here and Now / Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip - Set

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's safe to say that without Richard Pryor there would be no Chris Rock or Dave Chappelle-comedians who mine a lot of the same territory that Pryor had already covered in the 1970s. I was never a big fan of his feature films. They always seemed to keep Pryor's brand of comedy reigned in. His stand-up comedy was where it was at: pure, undiluted Pryor. This new DVD set captures two of his live concert films, Live on the Sunset Strip and Here and Now and present two fascinating snapshots of the man at different points in his career and life.

His material carries on in the proud, taboo-smashing tradition of Lenny Bruce. Pryor talks about things that aren't supposed to be discussed in public: masturbating, religion, and politics in a frank and very funny way. He also employs the same kind of hipster-speak shtick as Bruce but updated for the late `70s and early `80s. Pryor also has the same improvisational quality, able to react to a spontaneous comment from the audience without losing his cool.

With a biopic in the works (it should be interesting to see how it compares to his semi-autobiographical movie, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling) there will no doubt be renewed interest in Pryor and his work. These two films document two specific points in his life and show the man in his prime. They also reinforce how influential he was on the contemporary comedians who idolize him.

This DVD contains two shows. The first show (first cd, 3 stars) shows a less energetic and funny Pryor. Although funny, it lacks far behind the spectacular show of the second show (second CD,5 stars). In the second show you get to see Pryor at his best. Back to business after some years, it shows the true spirit of Pryor and shows why he is the godfather of comedy.

The Toy. Superman III. Critical Condition. Forget Richard Pryor's occasionally shaky film work; stand-up comedy is where he truly belongs. Filmed two years in a row, "Live on the Sunset Strip" and "Here and Now" remind us why Pryor was so good at comedy.
Armed with only a microphone and his signature mustache, Pryor fires scatter-shot at everything, but mostly himself. From his dangerous dances with drugs, sex, prison, white people & rednecks, drinking & vomiting to visiting the African bush, Pryor can find humor in any precarious situation.
LOTSS is probably the stronger of the two, a fast-paced concert that of course, touches on his then-recent controversy of accidentally setting himself on fire ("The Real Story? I was having some milk & cookies...").
HAN is razor-sharp as well. Pryor even does a routine with a live hermit crab an audience member brings to him--no kidding! The material sags a bit near the end, but it's pure brilliance all the way through.
As Pryor himself has mentioned when complaints about his profanity arised: "I've never said dirty words just for shock value. Every bad word has a story or meaning behind it. In other words, there's always substance."
And what better way to celebrate his comic legacy than with this DVD concert double feature. Long live Pryor!

Two of the greatest of Richard Pryor's stand-up routines. I have had this on vhs for several years now and just had to have it on dvd. To my delight the video resolution was far clearer on dvd!

These dvds show why Ricard Pryor was the Best Ever. A must see for anyone who loves real comedy.

Richard Pryor was without a doubt a genius in the world of comics. He set the standard for standup comedy very high. There have been no others, with the possible exception of Redd Foxx that could even stand in the same building as Richard. It was amazing the way that he was able to integrate his personal trials and tribulations into his comedy routines and to be able to make the horrible tragedies so funny. The world was dealt a terrible loss on the day that Richard died, and I think that the government should make some sort recognition of this great man.

You can't go wrong with your purchase of this two concert package deal, it is a deal of a lifetime as far as I am concerned.

This is one of Pryor's funniest sets! The first show is good the second is great. You can't beat the price for this double feature and the DVD is a very good transfer!

ONE OF THE GREAT COMIC GENIUSES WHO BLISTERS THE AIR WITH EXPLETIVES, TELLS THE TRUTH ABOUT HIMSELF AND MANAGES TO MAKE YOU LAUGH OUT LOUD AND SOMETIMES CRINGE AT THE SAME TIME. HE'S REALLY IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF AND NOT TO BE MISSED.

Length:: 0:21 Mins

This was a wonder DVD, to have two shows in one is just wonderful. My family really enjoyed him.