Richard Pryor: Live on the Sunset Strip

One of Richard Pryor's concert movies features him talking about a trip to Africa, employment in a Mafia club, and even his freebasing incident ("The burn unit eliminates race. The only color in there is burnt-up muthaf***as!").

After Pryor died, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock noted that he paved the way for all the African-American comedians who came afterwards. It's hard to deny that. His passing left some big shoes to fill, as did George Carlin's death and Robin Williams's suicide. It must've been quite an experience to get to see Pryor in concert. You're sure to love this performance.

Respect indeed!

Having just watched Richard Pryor: Live in Concert yesterday, I was very much looking forward to this, his next concert film. Quite hilarious when talking about sex, his experiences with the mafia, white people looking for humans like them in black Africa, and how women seem so calm compared to men like him. There's also some poignant stories about his trip to Africa and his resolving to never use the N-word again for humorous purposes compared to some of his past work. And then there's the freebasing/fire incident that concludes this film. His talk about Jim Brown and Brown's attempting to rehabilitate him is perhaps the most touching of the stories but that doesn't mean it doesn't end on a good laugh especially when it concerns his member. But while I liked most of what he did, I have to admit I wasn't too crazy about his "Mudbone" routine even though it was a favorite of an audience member who requested it. Still, while this wasn't as good as RP:LIC, Richard Pryor Live on the Sunset Strip still has many brilliant moments that make this well worth seeing.

In his second most successful concert movie, again we brace ourselves for what magical dynamic stuff that will spout out of the mouth of an undying and legendary comic, who was pure genius. He cuts the surface of truth with his jokes, which makes so funny. The height of laughs for me, was when he was talking about the mafia. We've guaranteed ongoing laughs here, with new original material, where if your anti swearing, again take a rain check. Again 78 minutes passes by easy in another engrossing night of comedy, where our priceless Pryor tells those lengthy stories where that and vulgarity blend so well, where truths are told in funny and inventive scenarios, wonderfully written, where laughter just has us. No there never has been, or never will be, someone so sharp and cutting, or brilliant, like our Richard. Another concert movie success, in the city of Angels.

Richard Pryor proves his comedic genius here with another comedy film, this time live from the sunset strip. Here, he talks about women, african roots, and Pryor on fire (which is his hilarious account of when he lit himself on fire mixing crack-cocaine). Funny stuff, but not as fully dandy as his 1979 special. Tries as hard as he can, and succeeds in winning the audience over. It also worked for me. Sort of. First of two Pryor comedy films from Columbia-Tristar. A-

"Richard Pryor Live On the Sunset Strip" showcases comedy legend Richard Pryor in his element, doing stand-up comedy. In his routine, he touches on all subjects, ranging from women to his trip to Africa, and even his scandalous past: the brothel run by his grandmother, his cocaine addiction, and the infamous incident in which he lit himself on fire. There are many laughs to be had in Pryor's delivery, and a few bittersweet moments as well, like Pryor's reminiscences about recovery and kicking his addiction. Even he can look back and have fun with his past. His comedic performance on the Sunset strip will be a wonderful document to remember him by in the future.