Mother, Jugs and Speed (1976) Review
July 19th 2011 02:09
Ever since I started writing this blog, many people have approached me with movies they think I should review. While this is always appreciated some suggestions are less helpful that others (Note to my readers: The Matrix, is NOT an obscure film) Imagine my surprise when my co-worker Jeff asked if I wanted to see a Bill Cosby comedy from the 70s that I never even heard of. Considering my extensive knowledge of obscure cinema, I'm always pleasantly surprised to find a movie that I'm not aware of.
“Mother, Jugs and Speed” is a dark comedy about a private ambulance company, that operates just this side of legal. Bill Cosby's character know affectionately as “Mother” and his pot smoking co-driver drive around bribing cops,cruising strip clubs, betting on the number of dead bodies they'll haul in a night and occasionally get in a shootout with drug addicts. All of this handled with casual, dry wit that makes you feel guilty to be laughing at it. It's strange seeing the normally wholesome Bill Cosby being vulgar and darkly comedic, but this is long before his days as a sitcom dad.
Harvey Keitel and the lovely Raquel Welch also star here, both giving excellent performances. Kaitel plays a suspended cop suspected of dealing speed, and Welch plays a shapely and intelligent dispatcher affectionately known as Jugs by her co-workers. While this cast is enjoyable and the movie is undeniably funny, it's failing is an aimless plot.
As much as I enjoyed the gags and shock-jock humor (Not to mention the young Raquel Welch) the movie's story wanders around like a drunken best man at a wedding reception, who wanders from table to table half-finishing conversations. There seems to be hints of a love story, but that resolves itself two thirds of the way through and the movie grinds on for another 45 minutes to a climax that has almost nothing to do with the beginning of the movie. As much as I loved “Mother, Jugs and Speed” I wish it has characters I could identify with, or a conflict that has a resolution.
Still, for sheer shock and hilarity “Mother Jugs and Speed” is worth it's weight in gold. Despite this the movie failed to escape the 70's and is now a staple of late night movies and truck stop theater. It's worth unearthing, but don't expect to be wowed, just amused.
There's somthing darkly funny about a beer drinking ambulance driver
Harvey Keitel and the lovely Raquel Welch also star here, both giving excellent performances. Kaitel plays a suspended cop suspected of dealing speed, and Welch plays a shapely and intelligent dispatcher affectionately known as Jugs by her co-workers. While this cast is enjoyable and the movie is undeniably funny, it's failing is an aimless plot.
Still, for sheer shock and hilarity “Mother Jugs and Speed” is worth it's weight in gold. Despite this the movie failed to escape the 70's and is now a staple of late night movies and truck stop theater. It's worth unearthing, but don't expect to be wowed, just amused.
| 39 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
This one is a fave of mine. Peter Yates (Bullitt, Krull) sure had range as a Director. MJS goes very well with George C Scott in The Hospital by the by.