Retrospective: Which Way is Up? (1977)

[Jerry Saravia]

WHICH WAY IS UP? (1977)
Reviewed by Jerry Saravia
RATING: One star and a half

I love Richard Pryor when he plays slightly against type, as in "Blue
Collar" or even "Joe Dancer." The problem may be that he can act and
play it straight but needs the right material and, frankly, a remake
of Lina Wertmuller's "The Seduction of Mimi" is not the best choice.

"Which Way is Up?" stars Pryor as Leroy Jones, an incompetent
California orange-picker who inadvertently stands up for the little
guy - a labor union (Unions were often the subject of films in the
1970's like "F.I.S.T" and "Norma Rae"). Pretty soon he is forced out
of town, away from his family, unemployed, until he finds work as a
contract painter. He's also smitten with Vanetta (Lonette McKee), who
asks him to not make love with anyone except her. Before you know it,
Leroy has climbed up the corporate ladder as a foreman. He also has to
juggle two lives, one with Vanetta from the city (whom he does marry),
and one with his wife from his hometown (Margaret Avery). Before long,
the movie's plot gets frenzied when his wife has a baby with the local
Reverend, and Vanetta has a baby as well whom he raises (the movie
makes clear that years have passed since he raises the child, and the
story completely ignores his hometown wife). Oh, and there's the
matter of Sister Sarah, corporate guys in limos waving their shiny,
sparkling rings, and Pryor's old pal and co-writer for his stand-ups,
Paul Mooney, in a very brief role.

I admire the intentions in "Which Way is Up?" and I do admire Pryor's
acting, especially playing three different roles (his role as Rufus
Jones, Leroy's father, is hilarious even if it smacks of minstrel
stereotyping). The fault lies with the fact that not much of this film
is funny - director Michael Schultz uneasily blends comedy with drama
punched up with some form of social injustice. But is it ultimately a
film about corrupt unions, infidelity, religious hypocrisy, or a
showcase for Pryor's comic talents? Hard to say since it doesn't fully
accomplish any of its goals due to strained humor and often lackluster
direction. I suppose the key to it is that when Leroy used to be a
hero for the little guy, he has sold out to "the Man."

Still, the film kept me somewhat involved since I only wanted to see
how this mess would end. "Which Way is Up?" is not a spectacularly bad
film but it is uneven, uncertain and only contains one or two good
chuckles. Forget up or down, which way is it to the nearest exit?

For more reviews, check out JERRY AT THE MOVIES at:
http://www.geocities.com/faustus_08520/Jerry_at_the_Movies.html

BIO on the author of this page at:
http://www.geocities.com/faustus_08520/index.html

Email me at Faust668 at msn.com or at faustus_08520 at yahoo.com