Greased Lightning (1977)

Highly Overrated But Still Good

Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

The true autobiographical story of Wendell Scott (Richard Pryor), the first African-American race car driver in the 1960s, struggles through with a strange production that just never really feels right for some reason. This is meant to be a drama and Pryor just does not feel right playing an important part like this. Pryor's rival/friend Beau Bridges and Pryor's wife Pam Grier also seem out-of-place in this strained picture that seems to be suffering an identity crisis. A lot of rough drama mixes with ho-hum race sequences and waning attempts at romance and comedy that end up being more detrimental than beneficial to the overall cohesiveness and effectiveness of the film. Fair, but really no flair. 2.5 out of 5 stars.

This one has been a favorite of mine ever since I first watched it on cable in the late 70's. Richard Pryor is just perfect as Wendell Scott, the first black stock-car racing champion. The rest of the cast is great as well, all perfect in their roles. This is definitely a perfectly cast film!The film itself is very decent but does have a few problems, most notably that once Wendell starts racing there seems to be too many large gaps in time, as if a lot of footage that has been left on the cutting room floor. But the script does move along well even with that problem.I would think Pryor fans especially would pick this up on DVD if it ever got a proper release, in widescreen, some commentary, and with those obviously deleted scenes left behind. Hopefully this will be on DVD before some Hollywood clown remakes this with tons of computer effects crap and ruins the whole thing.

..seeing as how there aren't that many to begin with.This is one of the best if not thee best! Partly due to the fact that it's based on a true story.The rest is due to the action/racing and the acting.I feel this is one of Richard Pryors best perfomances,by far.I don't think many people remember this movie due to this not by a Pryor type of comedy.It's more of an action/dramodey.Anyway,this is a must see for the NASCAR fan.You'll get a real glimpse of vintage NASCAR racing from the early 60's to the early 70's.Not to mention Earl Hindman aka "Wilson" of T.V.'s "Home Improvement",minus the fence.There's also a snappy soundtrack/theme song provided by one of the movies stars,Ritchie Havens.I swear you'll be humming or singing this song for a few days after you see this film.A good movie overall,I believe it was a sleeper in it's original release.Go,Wendell!!Go!!

It's not often I get to see a movie that isn't 1) unbelievably complicated in psychological meaning OR 2) unbelievably complicated in futuristic technology SOI found it GREAT ENTERTAINMENT, REFRESHING, POSITIVE, AND most of all CLEAN, HEALTHY FUN!This is the best I've seen Richard Pryor star in, and the real life Horatio Alger story is a real force for success motivation, even though I am a WASP.Only the jaded and/or mean spirited would turn this one down.