Stand-up comedy legend
Rudy Ray Moore's foul-mouthed rap routines took many of the elements of blaxploitation films -- pimps, gangsters, and sex -- to their hilarious limits. It was only natural that he should take his stage persona to the big screen as Dolemite, the "baddest" cool cat in town. Dolemite is a wrongly accused clubowner who is set up by arch-rival Willie Green (D'Urville Martin, who directed) and sent to jail. A madam named Queen Bee (Lady Reed) gets him released on the condition that he helps the cops find Green, and Dolemite is picked up from prison by a slew of multi-ethnic beauties who bring his "pimp-threads" so he can operate. There are many colorful street scenes and funny characters, including "The Hamburger Pimp" and the usual corrupt officials. Dolemite has sex, raps some funny comedy routines (including the underground classic "Signifyin' Monkey") and uses an all-girl kung-fu army to bring down the bad guys. A fast-paced, delirious crime-comedy, Dolemite is supremely entertaining despite its less than stellar production values. ~ Robert Firsching, All Movie Guide