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Friday Foster
A Total HOOT! Yay Pam!
1975
Director: Arthur Marks
Starring: Pam Grier, Carl Weathers, Yaphet Kotto, Thalamus Rasulala, Eartha Kitt, Jim Backus, Ted Lange
You must.
THE SETUP:
Pam is a photographer who captures an assassination on film, then various people try to kill her while she investigates.
DISCUSSION:
I don't understand all the negative reviews this film receives--it's a total hoot. It may not have the story or grittiness of Coffy or Foxy Brown, but it has all the fun elements, and plenty of 'em. I watched Foxy Brown expecting a hilarious time capsule of black 70s style, slang, and b-grade action, and was surprised that it was actually a great movie. THIS is the movie I expected, and it is great just for being what it is.
My favorite scene of all is when Ted Lange (Isaac from Love Boat) drives up in his Cadillac as pimp Fancy Dexter, trying to persuade Friday to join his harem. Pam is hilarious in this scene, as is Lange, with his WONDERFUL speech about his ladies' fine clothes, ride, heavy blow, and “best of all, they each have their own personal health and welfare plan!” Then cut to the 'ladies,' who are THE skankiest hos you could imagine. Friday refuses, and watch Pam's eyes as she says "I DON'T HUSTLE for NO BODY!" Fancy the pimp replies, "Well, at least you have to admit my shit is… HEEEEAAAAAAAVVVVVVYYYYYYY!" I'm sorry, who can resist this?
MINUTES after this we see Carl Weathers in his red-and-white plaid jacket with mirrored sunglasses! Then Chloris (friend of Friday's) throws MASSIVE shade at Friday for not running at her beck and call! Then Eartha Kitt delivers this speech about her new fashion collection, called 'the four seasons of S-E-X…. rrroooawwww!' As you can see the hits come fast and furious in this little gem.
Special mention must be made of the fashion show. Four women come out VERY dramatically, as this insipid music repeats its four-bar melody over and over and over. They never alter the expression on their faces, they engage in these vogue-type gestures that are stiff and ridiculous… after a certain point it becomes this sort of alien pantomime bearing no relation to anything human. Was this supposed, at one time, to be sexy? Is this what all our 'sexy' Britney's and Jennifer Lopez’s will look like in 30 years? Take special note of the one in white--she looks like the creature from the black lagoon or that floating head from Zardoz, and NEVER alters her living corpse expression.
Pam is great and fun as ever, and she has more to DO here than in Foxy Brown or Coffy, much as I love them. Here she plays more of a human with a sense of humor. There is also a parade of FIIIIINE-lookin' men (and “You don't forget the fine ones,” as Friday says), including Carl Weathers and Thalamus Rasulala.
I LOVE the name Thalamus Rasulala. He was in Blacula, you know.
One of my other favorite aspects of this movie is that there are SEVERAL scenes that are supposed to take place on the East Coast, but were OBVIOUSLY shot on the West Coast. During the climax, you literally look to the right and you’re outside of Washington, DC, turn to the left and you’re in California!
Also please note the heavy implication that Pam is going to be the sexual partner to both leaders of the movement she defended at the end… at the same time!
There were also quite a few snappy little one-liners that went by so fast they're almost hard to catch. Anyway, not the best Pam Grier movie in terms of quality, but maybe the best in terms of fun, laughs, and just WAYYYY out-there 70s mojo.
SHOULD YOU WATCH IT?
YES! It is a HOOT!
RELATED MOVIES:
FOXY BROWN is a similar movie, but genuinely GOOD, less funny, but much more raw and emotional.
