Review of Richard Pryor: Here and Now (1983) by Mec R — 23 Mar 2008

Watching Richard Pryor reminds you that there's a difference between telling jokes and being a real comedian. While this isn't the funniest I've ever seen him, it does show why he's considered one of the best.

Because his jokes and observations aren't just to get laughs, he's actually got something to say. His riffs on race relations aren't your standard "White people do things this way, and black people do things this way, isn't that funny?" He's really trying to get to some sort of truth with his act, such as when he talks about how the audience can all sit together for a couple of hours and get along and enjoy his act, but once they're back out in the "real world", things get ugly again and why is that.

Unfortunately, this particular audience is ridiculous. People are constantly interrupting his act, and while Pryor handled it remarkably well, I felt really bad that his concert film was being partially ruined by those who were supposedly his fans.

I think the bit that really sums up why Pryor is on a higher level than most comedians is that of his depiction of a heroin addict complaining about his life. It's not particularly funny, but I don't think it's really meant to be, and again, it shows that Pryor is trying to get at a deeper understanding of the human condition than just if it will get a laugh or not.

Definitely worth a watch to see a talented man who has conquered many of his demons and isn't afraid to talk about it.