I feel the need to make this entire review rhyme but I will do my best to resist the urge. I will also try my best to avoid the use of the word "motherf#%ker" but that may be a little more difficult as I have heard it so many times in the last 90 minutes. The character of Dolemite is one of the most recognizable and referenced icons from the blaxploitation era as he is so obnoxious, it is hard to avoid him. Rudy Ray Moore brings his comic alter-ego to life as an urban hero and his fast-talking, fur-wearing, pimping self has influenced a wide variety of people from Snoop Dogg to the Beastie Boys to David Lee Roth. This is because he is a cool dude who looks out for his ladies and tries to do his best despite his questionable lifestyle. Like many of the other anti-heroes who were main characters in 70's cult cinema, this dude knows right from wrong and fights for his people.

Dolemite is a pimp who has been framed and put in jail for possession of stolen furs and weapons. With the help of his friend, Queen Bee, he takes the opportunity to get out of prison and clear his name. In pure Dolemite fashion, he has some of his women meet him at the prison gates and then proceeds to change into his pimp clothes in full sight of the guards and inmates in the yard. This is just how this guy rolls. From there, Dolemite goes back to his neighbourhood and works towards cleaning up the damage that has been done by his rival Willie Green (D'Urville Martin). With the help of his karate-trained girls and a variety of shifty friends including a gun-running priest (West Gale), an FBI agent (Jerry Jones), and a junkie who is known as The Hamburger Pimp, our hero works toward taking back what is his and finding out who framed him.

From a technical standpoint, this movie is terrible. Shots are not framed properly and there is little imagination employed stylistically. This is more of a point and shoot affair. If you are looking to expand your enjoyment of the film, I would like to suggest playing the "Dolemite Boom Mike Drinking Game". Take a shot of your favourite alcohol (or a big swig of your 40) every time you see the microphone appear onscreen and I can almost guarantee that you will have trouble standing by the halfway point. The fight choreography could also be improved as there is what looks like an obvious stand-in used whenever Dolemite lays some whoop-ass on some dude. Surprisingly, the climactic bar fight turns out quite good as it features some stuntmen who obviously have some proper fight training and kung-fu moves. In fact, I was half-expecting Jim Kelly to leap into frame. If there were a few more quality fight scenes like this to replace the lame ones, the movie would be on par with some of the more reputable classics of the genre.

For all the problems that plague this film, there is a raw energy throughout that gives the movie a charisma that transcends the lack of artistic merit. This is mainly due to Moore and the way he delivers his lines with gusto. His method of raising his voice as he attempts to control conversations like a foul-mouthed preacher makes him both unique and overpowering. The fact that many of the characters are such caricatures also helps. I can't imagine a sleazier politician or dirtier cops and the kung-fu hookers are the perfect assistants to our hero. Moore returned as Dolemite in The Human Tornado the following year. In addition to playing Willie Green, D'Urville Martin also directed the movie. Cult movie fans will know Martin from co-starring roles in a number of Fred Williamson movies including Black Caesar and Hammer. (Josh Pasnak, 9/21/11)

Directed By: D'Urville Martin.
Written By: Jerry Jones.

Starring: Rudy Ray Moore, D'Urville Martin, Jerry Jones, Lady Reed.