Moving

After Bill Cosby had such huge success with The Cosby Show, a lot of comics took note, including Richard Pryor. He toned down his blue image and took on the role of clean cut family man in 1988's Moving.

Arlo Pear, Pryor, is an engineer who has just lost his job. Desperate to find work, he is offered what seems to be a dream job. Unfortunately it would mean that he would have to move his family from New Jersey to Boise, Idaho. The family is not crazy about this, but get on board with the exception of his teenage daughter Casey, Stacey Dash, who they let stay with an elderly couple they know until she finishes out her school year.

Everything seems to fall in place. They sell their home, find a beautiful new place, hire what they think is a perfect moving company, and a clean cut driver, Dana Carvey, to transport Arlo's sports car. But things aren't as peachy as they seem. Their new home has been gutted, they have the neighbor from hell, Randy Quaid, who happens to be the cousin of their former horrible neighbor, also Quaid. Their driver has multiple personalities and has trashed Arlo's car.The mover's never deliver the Pear's belongings and hold it hostage. And Arlo finds out that he is basically a fall guy at his new job and his position has been eliminated. Arlo's good nature finally snaps and he takes matters into his own hands.

This is probably Pryor's funniest film from the late 80's that didn't costar Gene Wilder. It's kind of refreshing to see Pryor play a milder character. He can't even flip the bird. He just raises his index finger. The great thing about this is that it isn't racial specific. Somebody like a Chevy Chase or John Candy could have easily stepped into the part. Actually, it reminds me a lot of Chase's film Funny Farm. I think some critics had a hard time buying Pryor in the role, but I think it really shows his strength as an actor.

The supporting cast is hysterical. Quaid and Carvey are over the top, and it works. Dave Thomas, I guess I'm not done with SCTV yet, is also good as a wormy yes man. There's also some funny cameo's from Rodney Dangerfield and Morris Day. Dangerfield was probably doing a favor for the director Alan Metter. The two also worked together on Back To School. And I can't go without mentioning that wrestler King Kong Bundy shows up as one of the movers.

I'm not sure why this wasn't a bigger hit. Maybe fans stayed away after Pryor's previous film, the awful Critical Condition. But I think it's one of his funniest.

It's available on dvd as a 2 pack with Greased Lightning. Or as a 4 pack with Greased Lightning, Uptown Saturday Night, and The Mack.