Customer Reviews

Which Way is Up?

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

" Which Way Is Up " , has been , and still is one of the funniest movies , that I've seen. From the beginning to the end , it's just down right hilarious. I'm smiling right now , just thinking about certain scenes. The script isn't original , by any means...but Richard Pryor's comedic talents take this film to unprecedented heights of humor. During a period of 1970's film making , when stereotypical images of Blacks , were the norm , this film is highly likely to offend people who are desiring political correctness.However , if you're able to except this film , for what it is .....you'll soon find yourself laughing at every ludricrous scene. I think the genuine qualities, of this film , are that it doesn't try to be something it isn't. It also doesn't attmept to be over-the-top, ridiculous. It simply tells the story of Leroy Jones's ( a young man , who leads a life of stagnant impoverishment), relocation to the big city. Motivated by the prospects of new romance , more money , and the threat of being killed for unknowingly starting a worker's strike ( in his hometown)...Leroy moves.Early and dedicated perfomances by Leonette Mckee ( Sparkle , Jungle Fever , Malcom X , ect ) , Marilyn Coleman ( Menace 2 Society , Looking for Mr. Goodbar, ect. ), and Margaret Avery ( Color Purple ), give this film an inescapable sence of truth. Honestly , if it weren't for the cast's ability to play their characters with an honest sense of seriousness , this film wouldn't be so funny. But that's the key to " Which Way Is Up". And that's why it's still hilarious, today. I highly recommend it and it will remain one of the funniest movies that I've ever seen.The dvd doesn't offer anything , but the ability to skip and choose scenes . However , this film, captures Richard Pryor ( playing three different charactors ) during his comedic prime , and that's well worth the money you'll spend.

In the career of every great comedian (and Richard is the greatest), there is, and always will be one movie that serves as their stand out film. "Which Way Is Up" is that for Richard Pryor; just as "Coming To America" is for Eddie Murphy.

Richard Pryor had the gift to play multiple characters, and make them all different. Just the look of the old man (Leroy's father), with the fluffy looking hair and eyebrows, he will make you fall out laughing- and this is before you hear him say anything. The "Reverend Lennox Thomas" is another character that will make you think of people like the infamous "Reverend Ike". But it's the sermons that will have you on the floor laughing! Leroy...well...Leroy is a lost man, and everyone around him knows it- all except him!

This is a movie for all those who need a damn good laugh, or need a reminder of why people like Eddie Murphy and Chris Tucker do what they do. Richard is the greatest of all time- this movie proves that!

This movie has been dismissed by reviewers for its crudity. Well, "Which Way Is Up?" wasn't meant to appeal to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was, unashamedly, made to appeal to the Black audience (there was no such thing as African-American in those days), and its total aim was to make that audience laugh! And it succeeded, spectacularly!! I was familiar with Richard Pryor from his toned-down appearances on The Flip Wilson Show, but this was a comedian who would do or say anything for a laugh. During his prime, no one was funnier than Richard Pryor, and he became a big star, so it wasn't just Black people who recognized his genius. This movie was his first opportunity to showcase his comedic vision in a starring role (acutally three of them). There are so many memorable scenes, and I don't want to give any of them away, so I won't. What I will say is that if you want to laugh, and you have any knowledge at all about Black culture thru the late seventies, and you haven't seen this movie, you've missed a treasure. The first time I watched it, I nearly split my side laughing. I'm talking about laughing so hard, I was crying; laughing so hard, my stomach hurt; laughing so hard, I hyperventilated; laughing so hard -- Well, you remember that phrase from "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" about, "It's a gasser!"? Yeah, laughing THAT hard. For my money, Richard Pryor may have become more famous after "Which Way Is Up?", but he was never funnier than this!

To heck with Tom Keough and Leonard Maltin! "Which Way Is Up?" is Richard Pryor at his comedic best. It is funnier than all of his other movies combined!

He is able to showcase his talents, without having to play "sidekick" or "buddy" to a less talented actor.

I found myself laughing until I was in pain at some of the jokes.

See Which Was Is Up?, and experience the type of humor that Martin Lawrence, Eddie Griffin, Steve Harvey, and the Wayan Brothers could only dream about creating!

The Man is a genius!

He's an liar, and old man, a womanizer, a preacher, a husband, a lover and he's at the top of his game in every single one of them. RIchard Pryor was never the same after making "Which Way Is Up?" No doubt, producers saw this talent and decided to match him up with has-beens like Gene Wilder (Stir Crazy, Silver STreak, Hear no Evil See NO Evil)and gave him a lot of money to reduce his comic genius to slapstick and buffoonery instead of one lighters and facial expressions that have you rolling into the aisles. For instance, in one scene his character has boasted, to his wife (played beautifully by the sexy Marge Avery), that he has a mistress (his wife accused him of being a homosexual because he had not touched her in months). When this normally demure woman hears that, she snaps and uses every kitchen appliance to chase Pryor around the table. As she picks up a knife, the old man (also played by Pryor) is preparing to enter the kitchen just as she throws it. The knife sticks in the door, mere inches from the old man's head, and he shouts, "The bitch done gon' berserk!" This is, by far, one of the funniest parts of the movie.

Richard Pryor is a standout in this movie and not to be missed should be the moral of the story: never sell out or you'll lose everything. Beautiful and black Lonette McKee is outstanding as Pryor's "lady on the side," and the settings are incredibly realistic, from a field of fruitpickers to the understated home, to the manufacturing plant itself. The film is a work of art and a classic. Invite your friends over, open up the Courvoissier and check out "Which Way Is Up?"

to call Blazing Saddles the funniest movie of all time. W.W.I.U. certainly holds it own in the hilarity category. Richard Pryor's funniest work for the simple reason that it gave him three vehicles for his expressive talents: an inept worker, promoted beyond his talents, the man's own father, a randy talk-it-the-way-I see it kind of guy and a philandering preacher with a platinum healing glove. These three characters interact with predictably insane results.

It is not the scatological and regularly profane Pryor that many people came to know, or the tragic cocaine-addicted Pryor of the late '70's. Also, he is not as cutting in political and social commentary he is later in his career (particularly in his standup). But this is vintage Pryor. Many of the lines of this movie are not just laugh-out-loud funny when heard while viewing the movie, but also when those lines said to any other movie cognoscenti.

Great to finally find this on DVD. A must have.

Word to the wise. Don't listen to critics. If it's not in subtitles, they don't like it. This movie showcases Richard Pryor's comic talents. Pryor hasin the past, given praise to Bill Cosby who first showed the world multiple-character comedy and took it a step further. Eddie Murphy recognized that he was influenced by Pryor. This movie is great! Slapstick, in your face humor. I think why critics hated this movie is the underlying truth about the mistreatment of minorities in this country.

No matter if it's back in the 70's it's still funny! I love all the actors in the movie

You can't find movies that come close to this one. Richard Pryor did a great job at making me laugh!

vicky from BERMUDA B.D.A
richard pryor was funny from start to finish.
richard was great the way he played those different
charracters and as i was watching the movie with my
husband i know the script word for word and he was amazed
at how good my memory was.our friend robert was busting
with laughter that he could'nt stop. my oldest son got
a kick out of the old daddy and how somebody ate his
peice of chicken! amazon please keep those old movies
comming thankyou