At the time this film was made, Richard Pryor was ill and had but a few years to live; Gene Wilder was a man in his late sixties. Without knowing these facts until a moment ago, my reaction to the film was that Pryor lacked the energy that had characterized his earlier performances; Wilder still performed with zest, yet, it would seem to me, the phenomenon of which George Burns(regarding he and his wife, Gracie) and Jerry Lewis, among others, have spoken, that at a certain age, the characters with whom once they were very successful, now were too young for them to play credibly. Clearly Wilder found that the fey youthful character he had created no longer suited him. Nonetheless, there are enough funny routines here, enough good lines and visual action, to make this quite a pleasant diversion.
Sadly, Pryor's medical condition escalates and is visible in the movie. Facial reactions are not present much, and his overall frame is stiffening. One would simply guess that it's old age, but it distracts you when you're watching the movie. Pryor should have been in a hospital rather than a sound-stage and Wilder's misplaced manic energy cannot carry the load. An ignoble end to the team's movie career.
Overall rating: 6 out of 10.
Sadly, Pryor's medical condition escalates and is visible in the movie. Facial reactions are not present much, and his overall frame is stiffening. One would simply guess that it's old age, but it distracts you when you're watching the movie. Pryor should have been in a hospital rather than a sound-stage and Wilder's misplaced manic energy cannot carry the load. An ignoble end to the team's movie career.
Overall rating: 6 out of 10.