Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling is a 1986 American biographical[2] comedy-drama film directed, produced by and starring Richard Pryor, who also wrote the screenplay with Paul Mooney and Rocco Urbisci. This was the first[3] and only feature film Pryor directed[4] (although he is credited as such on the screen version of Richard Pryor: Here and Now).
| Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Pryor |
| Produced by | Richard Pryor |
| Written by | Rocco Urbisci Paul Mooney Richard Pryor |
| Starring | Richard Pryor |
| Music by | Herbie Hancock |
| Cinematography | John A. Alonzo |
| Edited by | Donn Cambern |
Production company | Indigo Productions |
| Distributed by | Columbia Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 97 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $18,034,150[1] |
Background
Pryor plays Jo Jo Dancer, a popular stand-up comedian, who has severely burned himself while freebasing cocaine. The film came out after Pryor had set himself on fire while freebasing.
Synopsis
As Dancer lies hospitalized in a coma, his spiritual alter ego revisits his life, from growing up in a brothel as a child and struggling to beat the long odds to become a top-rated comedian. However, his success leads to extensive drug use and womanizing that takes its toll on his life. Jo Jo's spirit watches and attempts to convince his past self to end the cycle of self-destruction.
Cast
- Richard Pryor as Jo Jo Dancer
- E'Lon Cox as Jo Jo (child)
- Paula Kelly as Satin Doll
- Art Evans as Arturo
- Barbara Williams as Dawn
- Fay Hauser as Grace
- Billy Eckstine as Johnny Barnett
- Diahnne Abbott as Mother
- Carmen McRae as Grandmother
- Debbie Allen as Michelle
- Tanya Boyd as Alicia
- Wings Hauser as Cliff
- Michael Ironside as Detective Lawrence
- Scoey Mitchell as Father
Production
The earlier parts of the film were shot in Pryor's hometown of Peoria, Illinois.
Reception
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling received mixed reviews from critics. It currently has a 55% "Rotten" rating on the movie review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes based on eleven reviews.
In popular culture
The title of the film is mentioned in the lyrics to the 2013 Afrojack song "The Spark".
References
- "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling", Box Office Mojo.
- Siskel, Gene (May 4, 1986). "Richard Pryor Comes Clean In Harrowing Recap Of Life". Chicago Tribune. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
- "Short Circuit A Box-office Live Wire". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
External links