Better than most people think

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

This is definitely one of Pryor's better performances. Maybe not his funniest but on the drama side of things the movie is thoughtful and touching at times because of his performance, and he's still funny when he needs to be. The director/writer I think overreaches in the end but this is definitely worth watching for Pryor's performance if nothing else.

Who already follow the Pryor's career will be surprised about this serious role in this anti-war movie,based on a book this picture bring to us an another and hidden Pryor's profile,without losing focus of course,he takes all bitter experience from a soldier who was at Vietinam's POW and all this is handling by USA's Army when be back,the real problem begin when he realize that he isn't hero anymore,he have judgment after he'd signs a complete confession to save a soldier's life,forgotten by his wife and worst by own country is too much for him...all mixed with good jokes and con behavior take the picture a pleasant entertainment!! Resume: First watch: 1994 / How many: 4 / Source: TV-VHS-DVD-R / Rating: 7

Richard Pryor gets to really show off some talent here as an actor in this adaptation of the James Kirkwood novel. It has good moments, but never really satisfies; it works fairly well when it gets serious but its comedy is never that funny. Pryor really is better than the material, which doesn't achieve an effective balance between its drama and comedy. It's not bad as yet another look at the problems of Vietnam vets readjusting to civilian life, in any event.Pryor plays Eddie Keller, who's taken as a prisoner of war during his tour in Vietnam. When he's brought back to the States, he finds having to put up with Army red tape to be intolerable. In addition to being in desperate need of money, he learns from his wife Lisa (Lynne Moody) that she's in a relationship with another man and that his mother Jesse (Olivia Cole) is in a nursing home - an expensive one, to boot, which is about to kick her out if they don't get paid.Eddie makes friends with a well meaning prostitute named Toni (Margot Kidder) and eventually sees a way to deal with the money problem - larceny.This wouldn't be nearly as watchable if it weren't for Pryor, who's touching as well as funny. You feel so bad for him, in fact, that scenes in which Eddie bungles hold-up jobs to be much more pathetic than humorous - which may have been the point. Pryors' scenes with fellow P.o.W. Vinnie (Ray Sharkey) are deeply affecting; the late Sharkey makes the most of his brief screen time. Ronny Cox lends strong support as the colonel who tries to help Eddie upon his return to America. Kidder is appealing and a couple of familiar character players - such as Paul Benjamin, Matt Clark, Anne Haney, Peter Jason, Caren Kaye, Sandy Ward, and the much too briefly utilized Tim Thomerson - can be seen in small roles.Ultimately, while one does want happiness and success for the Eddie character, the feel-good ending is not all that believable. The movie is decent, but it's not memorable in any way.Six out of 10.

In this film, it starts off great and it kinda sizzles after a while, but it is at least put together well by one guy- Richard Pryor. He rises above the material here like no other and actually gives a good dramatic/comedic performance (his best dramatic one besides Blue Collar). While the prison camp scenes are quite intriguing, it becomes a little undone at home. That's my complaint. B-