Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf September 4, 2016

He pummeled bad guys and slayed paying audiences in “Dolemite,” became a god of fury in “The Human Tornado,” and battled Satan in “Petey Wheatstraw.” But all it took was a healthy dose of sincerity to help bring star Rudy Ray Moore to his knees, at least professionally. Setting aside goofball antics for a moment, Moore turns his attention to the plight of the inner city in “Disco Godfather,” which is dressed up in bedazzled jumpsuits, but really hopes to share with the audience a sobering look at the epidemic of PCP. Sure, some of Moore’s cinematic interests are represented here, including half-speed martial arts, but the majority of the film is devoted to the evils of drugs and the fight to free those hopelessly addicted to angel dust. “Disco Godfather” basically promises one viewing experience and delivers another, which would normally be a clever switcheroo. However, this one gets away from Moore in a hurry, who unwisely restrains himself to fit the real-world hero tone.

As king of the L.A. disco scene, Tucker (Rudy Ray Moore) spends his evenings in a DJ booth, imploring dancers to “put their weight on it” as they boogie themselves into a stupor. He’s beloved and powerful, but Tucker can’t protect his nephew, basketball star Bucky (Julius Carry), from the evils of PCP. When Bucky goes insane after sampling the drug, landing him in a psychiatric hospital, Tucker declares war on local drug lord Stinger (Hawthorne James), who’s built a factory to help flood the city with angel dust, determined to hook the entire population. Refusing the way of God to help pray away problems, Tucker sets out to win over the public, urging citizens to “attack the wack.” However, Stinger isn’t about to go down quietly, with the sides escalating antagonisms as violence breaks out, putting Tucker in a difficult position of neighborhood defense as Bucky fights for his life in the hospital.

“Disco Godfather” certainly starts off as a good time, introducing Tucker as a master of ceremonies, presiding over a smallish group of dancers in a club, twirling knobs and sliding dials in his DJ booth, trying to keep the party going. It’s Moore smiling and laying down some boogie in a silver jumpsuit, showing customers how disco fever is supposed to be achieved. With a disco beat relentlessly throbbing in the background, Tucker asserts his dominance, sharing the fun with Bucky, who’s being tempted by the forces of evil to sample PCP in the parking lot, which quickly triggers a freak-out, scrambling his brain while his uncle watches helplessly, exposed to the volatility of angel dust for the first time. “Disco Godfather” is introduced as a thumpy celebration of a musical trend, but it quickly snaps to attention, trading good times at a club for the severity of a psychiatric hospital, where Tucker is given a tour of fried minds and ruined lives, including one patient who cooked and served her infant for dinner while whacked out on PCP. If there was any hope for the picture to regain traction as amusing escapism, it’s lost with that piece of information.

Tucker and fellow activist Noel (Carol Speed) soon begin their campaign to inform the community about the horrors of PCP, and “Disco Godfather” begins to feel out formula, watching the DJ attempt to destroy Stinger by winning the hearts and minds of potential customers. The gangster responds with violence, forcing Tucker to whip out his martial arts skills, which look more like interpretive dance with each Moore production. However, fists of fury do break up the film’s incessant preaching, allowing director J. Robert Wagoner to stage a few stunts and pick up the pace. Also included are PCP-inspired visions, where victims enter a nightmare realm in the mind, taking them on a journey of pain as the drug has its way with their brain. For Bucky, the vision of gun-toting basketball players and the loss of his hand haunt his mind. Wagoner goes simple with the delusions, playing them with black backgrounds and fog machines, but the change of view is welcome, adding a touch of the mysterious to a painfully straightforward picture.

Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.85: aspect ratio) remains in line with the rest of the Rudy Ray Moore releases. Clarity reaches as far it can go in the focus-challenge picture, bringing out a satisfying level of detail that helps when picking up on the particulars of disco palaces, PCP freak-outs, and costuming, which retains all its fibrous texture. Close-ups also remain communicative, handling strange reactions and the feature's periodic flight into nightmare realms. Colors are pleasing, capably refreshed. Strong hues emerge from clothing and signage. Delineation is strong with limited lighting and evening sequences. Grain is fine and filmic. Source is in strong shape, but scratches and speckling are detected, along with a few rough reel changes.

Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix is unexpectedly intense, opening the picture up with a relentless disco beat that often threatens dialogue exchanges during club visits, though this appears to be an inherent issue. Music remains loud throughout, maintaining adequate instrumentation and a full bottom. Performances remain intelligible, emerging with intended emphasis. The track isn't precise due to age, but atmospherics support celebratory outings, and sound effects are acceptable.

Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary features Rudy Ray Moore biographer Mark Jason Murray, Rudy Ray Moore, writer/director J. Robert Wagoner, and co-writer Cliff Roquemore.

• "I, Dolemite: Part IV" (25:14, HD) continues the biographical exploration of Rudy Ray Moore's life, this time focusing on the production of "Disco Godfather," which is largely viewed as a disappointment by everyone involved. Amusing anecdotes about the shoot are shared by select crew members, and Moore (in archival footage) admits he made a mistake with the movie's anti-drug message. The featurette also includes a summation of Moore's later years, where he was rediscovered by the gangster rap generation, participating in another sequel (2002's "The Dolemite Explosion"), trying to keep his career going.

• Still Gallery (2:18) collects images from the film's publicity push.

• Soundtrack (35:01) offers four tracks of serious disco repetition.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (3:30, SD) is included.

Disco Godfather Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Moore's heart is in the right place, with "Disco Godfather" trying to impart an important message on the dangers of drugs and the ruination of lives. It means well, but a mission to educate viewers often takes over the feature, leaving traditional Moore interests few and far between, including a sense of humor, which is largely missing from effort. Moore doesn't make much time for jokes, and action is halfhearted at best, watching the cast attempt to work up a sweat with brief showdown situations. Ideas on faith vs. reality are presented but never massaged in full, and the picture's depiction of PCP hell is so cartoony, it inspires bewilderment instead of terror. "Disco Godfather" deserves credit for its bleak conclusion, which sends viewers off with a gut-punch instead of a laugh, making one final attempt to imprint its anti-drug message by messing with heroism, showing the fallibility of nobility. However, Moore is best served as ridiculously as possible, not presented as a community savior, forcing a man who built his career on dirty jokes to play it seriously for a lukewarm movie.