Good concept, poorly executed.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

One might think that if you've seen one blaxploitation flick you've seen 'em all, but you still gotta see "Dolemite". This story of a pimp taking revenge on those who wronged him has everything that a person could love about these movies. In a couple of scenes, the protagonist even spouts out some proto-rap!It's one movie that they must've had a lot of fun filming (as a lot of these movies are). This genre is one of a kind, and it must've been a great pleasure to get to see these flicks when they first got released. "Dolemite" is one movie that you're sure to love.

Dolemite (1975) ** 1/2 (out of 4) Dolemite (Rudy Ray Moore) is a hard-hitting pimp who is serving twenty-years in prison after being framed by some dirty cops. The warden tells him that evidence shows he might have been set-up so he allows Dolemite out of prison if he agrees to help track down someone passing guns and drugs in the streets. Soon Dolemite is going up against gangster Willie Green (D'Urville Martin).DOLEMITE was a late entry in the blaxploitation boom of the 1970s when people like Richard Roundtree and Pam Grier became stars. Rudy Ray Moore made his debut in this film and he would make a handful of other films but there's no question that he'll always be remembered for this role. For the most part this is a mildly entertaining film, although I doubt you'll find anyone that will try to say that this is some sort of classic or even a good picture.What makes this film work is the performance from the lead star. Yes, it's not Oscar-worthy material but it wasn't meant to be. The point of a film like this is to have fun and I must say that I thought Rudy Ray Moore was a lot of fun and especially early on when he's screaming out countless one-liners and many of them are quite funny. He's certainly very believable in the role of this pimp and he keeps the film moving at a nice pace.For the most part the film is entertaining but there's no question that the first half is much better than the second. For some reason the movie just runs out of gas around the fifty-minute mark and it never picks up. There are some really long and boring stretches including some bits inside Dolemite's club. These scenes towards the end of the movie just drag on and go nowhere so they could have easily been cut.DOLEMITE isn't a classic blaxploitation movie but if you're a fan of the genre then the star makes this worth watching.

The blaxploitation genre certainly produced some bizarre oddities that's for sure. Dolemite is firmly in this category. On a technical level its appalling, with bad camera work, acting, action and story. The boom mic is visible so often that it really deserves a mention in the credits. But these considerations are ultimately irrelevant. In fact, the sheer scale of the cinematic incompetence is certainly one of the actual joys of the movie. The film-makers just didn't care and seemingly knocked this one out with little concern for such matters.The rough and ready style of Dolemite kind of seems appropriate though, given the nature of the central character, who is a super-shady bad mutha in a pimp suit. This character, Dolemite, spends most of the film swearing in creative ways. His routines are like proto-rap and seem to have influenced hip-hop culture. The movie is really a superb time-capsule flick. The insane fashions and jive talk are all almost alien in their bizarreness now. While the movie sports various other strange characters such as Reverend Gibbs, the mayor and the Hamburger Pimp. The latter of which actually appears to be out of his head on something or other – I don't think this bloke was really acting! There's also an extended scene near the end in a nightclub that really has to be seen to be believed. It has a priceless performance from a soul act and a crazy dance routine with some guy battering hell out of a drum-kit, it then climaxes with Dolemite's swearing rap thing. It's strange, like the movie in general. This may be super-trashy but it's highly original. It's yet another example of why the 70's ruled when it came to movies.

I love the so-called "blaxploitation" films and have seen dozens. Some, such as COTTON COMES TO HARLEM, SHAFT and HAMMER have excellent production values and are very entertaining, while many others are very cheap and silly, but still entertaining, such as BROTHERHOOD OF DEATH or COFFEY. However, DOLEMITE manages something rare for the genre--it's just cheap and silly and not the least bit entertaining! It's like blaxploitation made for very, very stupid people.Years ago, I saw a takeoff on the Dolemite films on "Mad TV" and unfortunately, the real DOLEMITE isn't any better. Like the parody, the acting is just atrocious. Rudy Ray Moore has all the charm and charisma of a piece of balsa wood. He can barely read his lines and his "karate" is a joke--with his kicks obviously missing the target again and again. As for the rest of the actors, many might be even worse. My favorite was the FBI guy who couldn't even remember his lines and really struggled to get them out--yet they didn't even bother to re-film these scenes! In fact, so much of it was inept that I had a hard time figuring out whether the film was intended as a joke.If you think that despite horrible acting and action that there is something worth seeing about this film, you're wrong. Even for the perverts out there hoping to see some skin, will be disappointed. The naked women in the film really do look like hard-luck prostitutes and there's nothing remotely sexy about their sagging bodies. I think looking at old people naked--REEEAALLY old people naked--is no worse than looking at these "ladies". And as for Rudy Ray, he has "man boobs". No Black super-hero or anti-hero should look that bad naked!! For goodness sakes, put on your clothes people and come up with a script that doesn't look like it was written by winos!!!FYI--Apparently, there are actually sequels to this film!! I can't imagine watching them, so you'll just have to find someone else to review them. I have watched PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE and ROBOT MONSTER, but I just don't think I can bring myself to see another Dolemite film--they are that bad!