Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling

1986
R
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

Richard Pryor in Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling (1986)

After severely burning himself in a drug incident, a comedian has a near death experience in which he reviews his life.

Play trailer1:15

1 Video

56 Photos

Stand-Up Biography Comedy Drama

After severely burning himself in a drug incident, a comedian has a near death experience in which he reviews his life.After severely burning himself in a drug incident, a comedian has a near death experience in which he reviews his life.After severely burning himself in a drug incident, a comedian has a near death experience in which he reviews his life.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.3/10

2.1K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 1 nomination

Videos1

Trailer 1:15

Trailer

Photos56

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
The dark side of Jo Jo's (Richard Pryor's) growing acclaim in the film's story line is a reliance first on booze, then drugs. It is an aspect of the film which, Pryor admits, was painful to evoke as a writer, director, and actor. He said, "I look at the movie now and ask myself, 'Why did you show people that?' But I had no choice. It was something I had to do. I won't cop out, trying to explain why Jo Jo, or I, did drugs. I know why. I understand it even better after making the picture. But it's all there on film for people to take as they see fit. I'm one of the lucky ones. I was gone, crazy, out of my mind. But I'm alive."

Goofs
A 1980's Lincoln Town Car appears twice during the "Young Jojo" sequence: Over Young Jojo's shoulder during closeups when he looks back at "Older Jojo" sitting at the corner store, and then again briefly parked in front of the family house a few minutes later when he returns home and is chastised by his grandmother for playing on the lawn.

Quotes
Jo Jo Dancer: [to his wife as he gets on the bus] I'm gonna write you, I'm gonna write you.

Connections
Featured in At the Movies: Last Resort/Short Circuit/Jo Jo Dancer Your Life Is Calling/Broken Rainbow (1986)

Soundtracks
My Destiny
Produced by Arif Mardin, Philippe Saisse and Chaka Khan
Written and Performed by Chaka Khan
Courtesy of Warner Bros. Records

User reviews16

Review

Featured review

7/10

Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling is a worthwhile journey through a troubled man's life

I recently watched Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling (1986) on Tubi. The storyline follows a famous comedian who nearly dies from a drug overdose. As he hovers between life and death, his life flashes before him. We follow his journey throughout his life and through his near-death experience.

This film is directed by and stars Richard Pryor (Harlem Nights), and also features Deborah Kaye Allen (Fame), Art Evans (Die Hard 2), Michael Ironside (Starship Troopers), and Barbara Williams (White House Down).

While this movie was just okay overall, the storyline was smart, well-written, and well-executed. It serves as a good warning. The characters felt authentic and were well portrayed. The relationships throughout the movie are sad but feel genuine. The comedy routines are hit or miss, but it's always fun to watch Pryor. The antics are predictable yet over the top. The ending is very good and makes the journey worthwhile.

In conclusion, Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling is a worthwhile journey through a troubled man's life. I would score this a 6.5/10 and recommend seeing it once.