Where to watch Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling
4 Stars
In this film that closely parallels his own life story, Richard Pryor plays Jo Jo Dancer, a popular stand-up comedian who has severely burned himself in a drug incident. As he lies unconscious in a hospital, his spiritual alter ego gets up and begins a journey of his own. He revisits his life, from growing up in a brothel as a child and struggling to beat the long odds to become a top rated comedian. However, his success brings new problems as he develops a tragic pattern of substance abuse that begins to screw up his life. All the while, Jo Jo’s spirit watches these events and attempts to convince his past self to turn off from his path of self destruction.
Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling isn’t a skillfully made film on a technical level, but it’s a fascinating one nonetheless. It’s the least known of Richard Pryor’s pictures, and it’s easily the best movie he ever appeared in. Pryor is the director, star, and one of three credited co-writers on the project. Jo Jo is autobiographical, and while it feels rushed in spots, only because we want to spend more time with some early supporting characters, it also comes off as authentic and revealing. Pryor takes a surrealist approach in structuring the narrative with a spiritual guide that takes us through the memories of the critically wounded Jo Jo Dancer.
My earliest exposure to Richard Pryor and his comedic gifts was through two movies: Superman III and The Toy, neither successful outside of the comedian’s contributions. This film provides a glimpse into Pryor’s psyche, who, by using Jo Jo as a proxy, can tell his reflective story. I became so wrapped up in the movie that I felt short-changed when the credits rolled after 90 minutes. I wouldn’t have minded if it ran for another 40 minutes and included even more painful and compelling anecdotes. Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling is a gem of a film with an odd title, but this movie is a must-watch for even the most casual fans of Richard Pryor.
Directed by: Richard Pryor
Written by: Rocco Urbisci, Paul Mooney, Richard Pryor
Starring: Richard Pryor, Debbie Allen, Art Evans