I tried...

bigwickster

Okay, I respect Rudy Ray.  _Dolemite_ was an absolute classic blaxploitation film.  When I saw Dolemite, I noticed something fresh, something raw, and something that is deserving of its place in film history.

_Petey Wheatstraw the Devil's Son In Law_ was by far the worst movie I have ever seen.  And believe me, I gave it a chance.  It was recommended by a friend who knows what I want to see, and suggests both the best and the worst movies ever for me to see.  He had already seen it once, and when we watched it, neither of us could finish it.  I ALWAYS finish movies.  I hate leaving, even to go to the bathroom, from even bad movies.  This one just couldn't do it for me.  The low budget nature is negligible.  The poor acting is expected.  But the acting is not just poor, it is terribly excessive overacting at points, and at other points cardboard-cutout-esque.

I had a hard time getting my mind around the stereotypes displayed.

The worst part of all is, it is not a bad movie you can make fun of.  I mean, a scary movie, a drama, an action film... if done poorly, you can make these a laugh riot, either with a bunch of your pals or by yourself.  But when a no budget comedy is horrible, you can't laugh at it.  It is impossible.

Alan Alda's character in _Crimes and Misdemeanors_ says "If it bends, its funny.  If it breaks, its not funny."  This broke before the movie started and consistently waves the broken pieces in your face.

Look at it like this: A friend tells you a bad joke.  It is uncomfortable to listen to, but the reward comes when you pretend to laugh and then they feel good about themselves.  These jokes are even worse, so they are more uncomfortable to listen to, and then, since it cannot receive your reaction, assumes you are laughing hysterically, and kicks the horribleness up a notch, trying to top the last joke.  And since the filmmakers are ignorant to your response it is not endearing, but annoying.  You feel no reward for attempting to laugh.  Its even hard to make your own jokes about it, because this film goes to such great lengths to try to make you laugh anyway but fails at every turn.  And I do mean EVERY TURN.

Maybe I missed something, so you can try to watch it.  After all, I do advocate trying new things.  At least you will be able to appreciate good comedy.

Forgive me, Rudy Ray.

score 1/10

bigwickster 11 March 2002

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0162867/