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IMDbPro

Jackie's Back!

  • TV Movie
  • 1999
  • TV-14
  • 2h
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
816
YOUR RATING
Jenifer Lewis in Jackie's Back! (1999)
ParodyComedyMusic

"Mockumentary" on '60s diva Jackie Washington (Jenifer Lewis), whose ancestors were George Washington's slaves. Lewis is our leading lady with an incredible singing voice. Jackie is planning... Read all"Mockumentary" on '60s diva Jackie Washington (Jenifer Lewis), whose ancestors were George Washington's slaves. Lewis is our leading lady with an incredible singing voice. Jackie is planning her comeback tour coinciding with Edward Whatsett St. John (Tim Curry) as her interviewer... Read all"Mockumentary" on '60s diva Jackie Washington (Jenifer Lewis), whose ancestors were George Washington's slaves. Lewis is our leading lady with an incredible singing voice. Jackie is planning her comeback tour coinciding with Edward Whatsett St. John (Tim Curry) as her interviewer. Famous faces are dishing the dirt on her, including Bette Midler, Whoopi Goldberg, David... Read all

  • Director
    • Robert Townsend
  • Writers
    • Dee LaDuke
    • Mark Alton Brown
  • Stars
    • Jenifer Lewis
    • Tim Curry
    • T.V. Blake
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    816
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writers
      • Dee LaDuke
      • Mark Alton Brown
    • Stars
      • Jenifer Lewis
      • Tim Curry
      • T.V. Blake
    • 21User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 4 nominations total

    Photos4

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    Top cast82

    Edit
    Jenifer Lewis
    Jenifer Lewis
    • Jackie Washington
    Tim Curry
    Tim Curry
    • Edward Whatsett St. John
    T.V. Blake
    • Antandra Washington (Jackie's Daughter)
    Tangie Ambrose
    Tangie Ambrose
    • Shaniqua Summers Wells (Jackie's Daughter)
    Whoopi Goldberg
    Whoopi Goldberg
    • Nurse Ethyl Washington Rue Owens (Jackie's Sister)
    Robert Bailey Jr.
    Robert Bailey Jr.
    • Wilson Wells (Jackie's Grandson)
    Loren Freeman
    • Kim (Jackie's Costume Designer)
    Tom Arnold
    Tom Arnold
    • Marvin Pritz (Jackie's Former Manager)
    Patti Austin
    Patti Austin
    • Self
    Loretta Devine
    Loretta Devine
    • Snookie Tate (Jackie's Childhood Friend)
    Julie Hagerty
    Julie Hagerty
    • Pammy Dunbar (Host)
    David Hyde Pierce
    David Hyde Pierce
    • Perry (The Deaf Rehearsal Pianist)
    Kathy Najimy
    Kathy Najimy
    • Lola Molina (Jackie's Stalker)
    Isabel Sanford
    Isabel Sanford
    • Miss Krumes (Jackie's Play Mama)
    JoBeth Williams
    JoBeth Williams
    • Jo Face (Jackie's Vocal Coach)
    Mary Wilson
    Mary Wilson
    • Vesta Crotchley (Jackie's Third Grade Teacher)
    Ski-ter Jones
    Ski-ter Jones
    • Peaches Yancy (Still Photos)
    • (as Ski-ter Jones)
    Reynaldo Rey
    Reynaldo Rey
    • Cadillac Johnson (Retired Pimp)
    • Director
      • Robert Townsend
    • Writers
      • Dee LaDuke
      • Mark Alton Brown
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews21

    7.0816
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    Featured reviews

    8edhuds0n

    Like an All-You-Can-Spoof Buffet!

    I laughed throughout, except for the icky-sweet ending. I guess they decided to spoof everybody so that no ONE person could say it was about them. Although it was more of a Diana Ross/Pam Grier roast, they picked on everyone, and it was great! The cameo interviews were wonderful -- Penny Marshall, Don Cornelius, Dolly Parton, Diane Carroll, Howie Mandel, Liza Minelli, and that's just the beginning.

    Tim Curry and Jenifer Lewis held the story together nicely around the numerous snippets and provided many comedic moments themselves. It is definitely worth your $1 at the video store, or better yet ... tape it next time it appears on Lifetime!
    10chrisk81

    What A Great Movie!

    I rented this movie with my best friend last year. We had no idea what to expect. This movie had us laughing so hard, we watched it three times in a row and then we had everyone we knew watching it.I'm excited to know its on DVD now and just ordered it. I don't know why everyones so harsh about the ending of the movie, I think its an alright ending.No matter what, this movie is awesome! Everyone should see this movie at least once. This movie should definitely become a cult classic. I cant wait to see this movie again, it has been quite a while. Anyone who hasn't seen this movie, you need to go out and rent it. Yield Yield Yield before you hit me with your love...LOL sorry I'm rambling, just have to have ten lines in at least to post a comment.
    Dinky23

    He Fell On That Afro Pick!

    I'm a huge Tim Curry fan, so I initially watched this for that reason, but I have to say, this is one of the funniest movies I'd seen in a while. "Jackie" is a fallen diva, descended from George Washington (according to her), about to make a comeback. I loved all the cameos, you can tell just by the people willing to make cameos in this that they thought it was a hilarious concept. The end is a bit too sappy, but I can forgive that. LOved "The Milkman".. my favorite scene is Jackie saying, "I never stabbed him with no afro pick... he FELL on that afro pick" and then the indentations on Milkman's forehead.... just beautiful! Great movie... I highly recommend it!
    8cherold

    This Was a Lifetime Movie?

    I discovered this mockumentary in a rather serendipitous way; I was reading the liner notes of Grace Slick's Great Society album (check it out) and in an interview she said she was interested in acting, so I checked IMDb to see if she had ever done that and she hadn't except for a cameo in Jackie's Back.

    This is a terrifically funny movie with a wondrous performance by Jenifer Lewis as a diva on the comeback trail. The movie is a constant string of gags, and while they don't all work, enough of them do to make the overall effect very entertaining.

    The movie also may hold a record for cameos. A ton of entertainment people play themselves, and many of the bit parts are from fairly well- known actors. Of particular note is a hilarious bit by David Hyde Pierce as a deaf pianist.

    The ending is a bit sappy, but why not end with a little heart?

    It's also the most Lifetime Network part of the series, and I've got to say, I'm really curious how this wound up there. I think of Lifetime movies as being about white women struck by tragedy. Perhaps I'm wrong?
    8TheLittleSongbird

    Very good mockumentary film

    I saw Jackie's Back! for quite a few reasons, some more obvious than others, and I was very impressed. I loved the mockumentary style the film is told in, and I loved the lighting, costumes and sets too captured very well by some great camera work. I don't need to say how good the music is, I'll drop a hint actually it's brilliant and the renditions are every bit as good as well. The story may have some predictable spots, but it is well-paced and never fails to be interesting, and the script even with the odd dry area is ceaselessly hilarious. The performances and cameos are great. Jennifer Lewis is a revelation, being sassy, warm and endearing all at once, complete with a terrific voice. I am a huge Tim Curry fan, and while he sometimes overdoes the stuffiness and pomposity of his character he seems to be having great fun. Some of the biggest joys of Jackie's Back! were the cameos, the best of which were Whoopi Goldberg and David Hyde Pierce. The ending is sentimental, but effective. All in all, very good and entertaining. 8/10 Bethany Cox

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    Related interests

    Bill Pullman, John Candy, Joan Rivers, Daphne Zuniga, and Lorene Yarnell Jansson in Spaceballs (1987)
    Parody
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)
    Music

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Whoopi Goldberg filmed all of her scenes in costume for Girl, Interrupted (1999) while in her trailer on set for that same movie.
    • Quotes

      Jackie Washington: Of course, now, I *do* pay homage to all the dead divas -- Billie, Ella, Shirley Bassey...

      Edward Whatsett St. John: Shirley Bassey is alive.

      Jackie Washington: Really? God bless her. But now them others -- I'm not gonna name names... but they all stole from me. Aretha, Whitney, Little Brandy, Streisand, Diahann Carroll... Oh. and Bea Arthur. They all stole from me.

    • Alternate versions
      When the film premiered on Lifetime, it did not include Curry's overdub at the end about the new version of "Look at Me." This line has surfaced in recent TV airings and on the DVD release.
    • Connections
      References Star Trek (1966)

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 14, 1999 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official Site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Jackie's Back: Portrait of a Diva
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hearst Entertainment Productions
      • Krost/Chapin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h(120 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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