Where to watch Moving
2 Stars
Richard Pryor’s non-conert films of the 1980’s range from innocuous to dreadful. Moving falls into the former category. This is a sitcom level production that was finaced by Warner Bros and given a wide theatrical release during the spring of 1988. It serves as the final nail in the coffin for the acting career of Pryor. After achieving phenomenal success in movies a decade earlier, Moving serves as an inglamorious ending to a once white-hot (solo) big screen career.
Arlo Pear (Richard Pryor) is a engineer who loses his job and is forced to relocated from New Jersey to Boise,Idaho. His wife, daughter (Stacy Dash), and twin sons all strongly object to the move but Arlo recongnizes that he’s received a once-in-a-lifetime offer. Now, the Pear’s must face the obstacles in selling their current home, purchasing a new home two-thousand miles away, dealing with thieving movers, and a war-crazed neighbor (Randy Quaid).
Dana Carvey provides a spark of energy in a small supporting role as a criminal with multiple personality, but it’s Pryor, who is oddly subdued, that seems to be phoning this one in. Moving was directed by Alan Metter (Back to School), who shows little visual ingenuity or control of tone. The film’s final 10 minutes parody Rambo and Mad Max but by then it’s way too little, far too late.
Director: Alan Metter
Stars: Richard Pryor, Randy Quaid, Stacy Dash